Boston’s Commissioner of Customs

Definition

The Commissioner of Customs in Boston was a British-appointed official responsible for enforcing customs laws and collecting taxes on imported goods.

Analogy

Think of the Commissioner of Customs like a school principal who's been hired by the district superintendent. They're not from your school, but they have the power to enforce rules and collect fines if you break them.

Related terms

Townshend Acts: A series of acts passed by Parliament in 1767 that placed duties on common items imported into the American colonies, such as lead, paper, paint, glass, and tea.

Writs of Assistance: These were general search warrants that allowed British officials to search any place at any time for smuggled goods.

Stamp Act: This was a tax imposed by Britain on the American colonies that required many printed materials to be produced on stamped paper produced in London.