Gary Blakely was the latest member of a patriotic American family that had members serve in every armed conflict in the nation's history. He grew up in England, where his Father was serving in the military. He attended Oxford University and excelled as a scholar and athlete.

Seeing the rise of the Nazis throughout Europe, he dropped out of Oxford and, at his family's request, headed back to America, where he became a cadet at West Point. He was also outraged at crime and decided to become a crime fighter. If he had gone public his super hero career, it would have put his military base at West Point in jeopardy, so he put on a patriotic disguise based on the uniform of his great-great grandfather and George Washington's aide-de-camp, Captain Ralston. He became the Spirit of '76 and fought enemies such as Satan.

While he had no super powers, he was a skilled fighter, and his cloak was bulletproof.

*Pocket Comics #1-4
*Green Hornet Comics #7-37

*[http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/s/spirit76.htm International Hero]
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_of_%2776_(Harvey_Comics) Wikipedia]
*[https://comicvine.gamespot.com/spirit-of-76/4005-20140/ Comicvine]
Category:Heroes
Category:Harvey Characters
Category:1941 Debuts
Category:Gary Blakey - Creator
Category:Bob Powell - Creator
Category:Patriotic Characters
Category:Comic Book Characters
Category:Male Characters
Category:Ghost Themed Characters
Category:Non-Powered Characters
Category:Protagonists
Category:Time Themed Characters
Category:Numerically Themed Characters
Category:Fantagraphics Characters
Category:Gwandanaland Characters
Category:HarperCollins Characters
Category:AC Comics
Category:Collectors Press Characters