Patrick Henry's Oratory Ignited the American Revolution
Born on May 29, 1736, in Hanover County, Virginia, Patrick Henry emerged as a prominent leader during the American Revolution, renowned for his powerful speeches. His mother, Sarah Winston Syme, hailed from Virginia, while his father, John Henry, was originally from Scotland. After experiencing setbacks in business, he turned to law and gained recognition in 1763 with the Parson's Cause case. In 1765, he was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses, where he likened King George III to historical tyrants. On March 23, 1775, he famously proclaimed, "Give me liberty or give me death!" at St. John's Church. Following Lord Dunmore's gunpowder seizure in April 1775, he led a militia to Williamsburg and later became Virginia's first elected governor and militia commander-in-chief.
Key facts
- Patrick Henry was born on May 29, 1736 in Hanover County, Virginia.
- His father John Henry was Scottish-born; his mother Sarah Winston Syme was a Virginian.
- Henry won the Parson's Cause case in 1763, challenging royal authority.
- He was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1765.
- On March 23, 1775, he delivered the 'Give me liberty or give me death!' speech at St. John's Church, Richmond.
- In April 1775, Henry led a militia after Lord Dunmore seized gunpowder, but negotiated compensation.
- Lord Dunmore issued the Dunmore Proclamation in November 1775.
- Henry became the first elected governor of Virginia in 1776.
Entities
Artists
- Patrick Henry
- John Henry
- Sarah Winston Syme
- Thomas Jefferson
- John Randolph
- Lord Dunmore
- James Maury
- George III
- Homer
- Brutus
- Cromwell
- Caesar
Institutions
- Virginia House of Burgesses
- Second Virginia Convention
- First Continental Congress
- Second Continental Congress
- Continental Army
- Virginia General Assembly
- Hanover County militia
- Williamsburg Magazine
- Library of Congress
- Virginia Museum of History & Culture
- Portsmouth Public Library
- National Portrait Gallery
Locations
- Hanover County
- Virginia
- Richmond
- St. John's Church
- Williamsburg
- Louisa County
- York River
- New England
- Lexington
- Concord
- London
- England
- United States