The life of a Bermudian who played a key role in the American Revolution was at the weekend marked in a special ceremony in the United States capital.

Thomas Tudor Tucker, who served in the Continental Army and became only the third US treasurer, serving under four presidents, was honoured at a grave-marking ceremony in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington DC.

Bermuda’s Washington representative Cheryl Packwood told the 100-strong audience: “Bermuda continues to value its historic friendship with the United States and this occasion served as a way to honour the life of a great man who truly embodied our collaboration from the very beginning, as an early supporter of American independence and we look forward to continuing to build on the efforts of Thomas Tudor Tucker as we strengthen our relationship for next 400 years.

Mr Tucker, who was treasurer from 1801 until his death in 1828 also served a member of the House of Representatives from 1789 to 1793,

The Washington ceremony included the colour guard of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, which carried the Bermuda flag alongside the Stars and Stripes to mark Bermuda’s participation in the ceremony, the Children of the American Revolution and Daughters of the American Revolution.

Ms Packwood presented all three organisations with an original edition of Chained on the Rock, by her father Cyril Outerbridge Packwood.

And she reminded the audience that many of the Bermudians who helped steal barrels of gunpowder from the St George’s arsenal in 1775 and rolled them to Tobacco Bay from onward shipment to the Continental Army had been slaves.

Over a two-year period, which started last year, the Bermuda Gunpowder Plot is being commemorated in a series of events, the first of which was in Bermuda at the Tucker House Museum in St George’s.