For his own sake, no. What he did blatantly put himself in danger and finally was placed under interrogation, etc & so forth. For the sake of science, yes. What he did, and the consequences thereof, would have publicised his struggle, especially during the age of Enlightenment. Although what he did might also have momentarily pushed people away from science in fear of the consequences of facing the church due to the harsh punishment that he was subjected to. His persistence was, in the end only healthy for the development of science in later years.
Passage of the Townshend Acts caused the colonists to "<span>boycott English goods," since they felt it was unfair that they were being taxed without representation. </span>
