A new TG4 documentary is set to highlight the story of Stephen Moylan, a Cork-born man who is credited with first using the term 'United States of America' in a letter dated January 1776. Moylan, who served as a Continental Army officer during the American Revolutionary War, wrote the phrase while acting as secretary to General George Washington.
The documentary, airing on TG4, examines Moylan's life and his often-overlooked contribution to American history. Born in Cork city in 1737, Moylan emigrated to Philadelphia and became a prominent figure in the American Revolution, later serving as the first Quartermaster General of the Continental Army.
Historians have verified that Moylan used the term 'United States of America' in a letter to Washington, predating other known uses of the phrase. The documentary includes interviews with historians and archival material to trace his journey from Ireland to the founding of the United States.
