Final answer:
John Adams, a Massachusetts lawyer, was surprised by the extent of protest and boycotts led by the colonial leaders against the British. He later became an important figure in the American Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Massachusetts lawyer who was surprised by the protests and boycotts staged by colonial leaders was John Adams. Adams was a staunch supporter of the independence cause, but he was initially shocked by the scale and intensity of the colonists' resistance to British policies. However, his initial astonishment gave way to a firm commitment to the independence movement, and he went on to play a key role in drafting the Declaration of Independence.
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