local
Rare copy of Declaration of Independence found by UK National Archives in papers of captured US ship
Summary by The Bellaire Editorial Desk AP , as published by ABC13 Houston (KTRK / ABC)
· July 3, 2026
· 1 min read
Photo: ABC13 Houston (KTRK / ABC) · view original
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Bellaire Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Byline on source page AP, as published by ABC13 Houston (KTRK / ABC) Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 3, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
Every story comes with a passport. How we work · Corrections log · Publisher’s note
Key points The find was made by a volunteer, Michael Scurr, who has been working at the National Archives for 11 years. He stumbled upon the document while going through the letters of a Royal Navy captain from the 18th century.
A rare copy of the Declaration of Independence has been found in the UK. The discovery was made by the UK National Archives in papers related to a captured US ship. The find was made by a volunteer, Michael Scurr, who has been working at the National Archives for 11 years.
He stumbled upon the document while going through the letters of a Royal Navy captain from the 18th century. Further details about the discovery are available from the UK National Archives, including the specific circumstances of the find, which occurred last May.
More local Today’s briefing Local events
Why this matters
Local news anchors readers in their community — the people, places, and decisions that shape day-to-day life. The Bellaire covers these stories because national outlets often won't.
About this story
As published by ABC13 Houston (KTRK / ABC) . The Bellaire surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit ABC13 Houston (KTRK / ABC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local Published: July 3, 2026 Source: ABC13 Houston (KTRK / ABC) Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A rare copy of the Declaration of Independence has been found in the UK. The discovery was made by the UK National Archives in papers related to a captured US ship. The find was made by a volunteer…
When was this published? This article was first published on July 3, 2026 by ABC13 Houston (KTRK / ABC) and curated for The Bellaire readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by AP at ABC13 Houston (KTRK / ABC). To learn more about how The Bellaire selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Bellaire, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More local →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter
