Patrick Henry
1st & 6th Governor of Virginia
In office 1776 – 1779 1784 – 1786
Preceded by	First Governor Benjamin Harrison V (1784)
Succeeded by	Thomas Jefferson (1779) Edmund Randolph (1786)
Born	May 29, 1736
Died	June 6, 1799 (aged 63)

Patrick Henry (May 29, 1736 – June 6, 1799)^[1] was a prominent figure in the American Revolution, known and remembered for his "Give me Liberty, or give me Death!" speech. The Governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term Year 1776 ( MDCCLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1779 ( MDCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1784 ( MDCCLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Year 1786 ( MDCCLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Benjamin Harrison V (April 5 1726 April 24 1791 was an American planter and revolutionary leader from Charles City County Virginia. Thomas Jefferson (April 13 1743 – July 4 1826 was the third President of the United States (1801–1809 the principal author of the Declaration of Independence Edmund Jenings Randolph ( August 10, 1753 September 12, 1813) was an American attorney, Governor of Virginia Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian defeats the Sassanid army in the Battle of Ctesiphon, under the walls of the Year 1736 ( MDCCXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year Year 1799 ( MDCCXCIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian defeats the Sassanid army in the Battle of Ctesiphon, under the walls of the Year 1736 ( MDCCXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year Year 1799 ( MDCCXCIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" " Give me Liberty or give me Death! " is a famous quotation attributed to Patrick Henry from a speech made to the Virginia House of Burgesses. Along with Samuel Adams and Thomas Paine, he was one of the most influential (and radical) advocates of the American Revolution and republicanism, especially in his denunciations of corruption in government officials and his defense of historic rights. Samuel Adams ( – October 2 1803 was an American Statesman, Politician, Writer and political philosopher, brewer Thomas Paine (January 29 1737 &ndash June 8 1809 was an English Pamphleteer, Revolutionary, radical, Inventor, and Intellectual Republicanism is the Value system of Governance that has been a major part of American civic thought since the American Revolution

Early years

Henry was born in Studley, Hanover County, Virginia. Hanover County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. ^[2] His father was John Henry, an immigrant from Aberdeenshire, Scotland, who had attended King's College, Aberdeen before emigrating to the Virginia colony in the 1720s. Aberdeenshire (Siorrachd Obar Dheathain is one of the 32 unitary Council areas in Scotland. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. King's College in Old Aberdeen, Scotland, is a formerly independent university founded in 1495 and an integral part of the University of Aberdeen. The Colony of Virginia (also known frequently as the Virginia Colony and occasionally as the Dominion and Colony of Virginia) was the English colony ^[3] Settling in Hanover County, about 1732 he married Sarah Winston Syme, a wealthy widow from a prominent Hanover County family of English ancestry. ^[4] Patrick Henry was once thought to have been of humble origins, but he was actually born into the middle rank of the Virginia gentry. Gentry generally refers to people of high Social class, especially in the past ^[2] Henry attended local schools for a few years, and then was tutored by his father. After failing in business, in 1754 he married Sarah Shelton, with whom he would have six children. Provided with land and slaves by his father-in-law, Henry began a career as a planter until his home was destroyed by fire. ^[2] Henry made another attempt at business, which also failed, before deciding to become a laywer in 1760. ^[2]

Henry first made a name for himself in a case dubbed the "Parson's Cause" (1763), which was an argument about whether the price of tobacco paid to clergy for their services should be set by the colonial government or by the Crown. The "Parson's Cause" was an important legal and political dispute in the Colony of Virginia often viewed as an important event leading up to the American Revolution After the British Parliament overruled Virginia's Two Penny Act that had limited the clergy's salaries, the Reverend James Maury filed suit against the vestry of Louisa County for payment of back wages. The Parliament of Great Britain was formed in 1707 following the ratification of the Acts of Union by both the Parliament of England and Parliament of Scotland The Two Penny Act, enacted in 1758 by the Virginia Assembly, is the act in which the Parson's Cause trial surrounded The Reverend James Maury ( 1719 – 1769) was an Irish-born educator in the American colonies Louisa County is a county located in the US state &mdash officially " Commonwealth " &mdash of Virginia. When Maury won the suit, a jury was called in Hanover County to determine how much Maury should be paid. Hanover County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Henry was brought in at the last minute to argue on behalf of Louisa County. Ignoring legal niceties, Henry delivered an impassioned speech that denounced clerics who challenged Virginia's laws as "enemies of the community" and any king who annulled good laws like the Two Penny Act as a "tyrant" who "forfeits all right to his subject's obedience. "^[5] Henry urged the jury to make an example of Maury. After less than five minutes of deliberation, they awarded Maury one penny. ^[6]

Stamp Act

Henry was elected from Louisa County to the House of Burgesses, the legislative body of the Virginia colony, in 1765. The Virginia House of Burgesses was the first elected lower house in the legislative assembly in the New World established in the Colony of Virginia in That same year, he proposed the Virginia Stamp Act Resolutions. This page is about the pre-revolutionary resolves against the Stamp Act, for the later resolution against the Alien and Sedition Act, see Virginia Resolution The freshman representative waited for an opportunity where the mostly conservative members of the House were away (only 24% was considered sufficient for a quorum). In this atmosphere, he succeeded, through much debate and persuasion, in getting his proposal passed. It was possibly the most anti-British (many called it "treasonous") American political action to that point, and some credit the Resolutions with being one of the main catalysts of the Revolution. The proposals were based on principles that were well established British rights, such as the right to be taxed by one's own representatives. They went further, however, to assert that the colonial assemblies had the exclusive right to impose taxes on the colonies and could not assign that right. The imputation of treason is due to his inflammatory words, "Caesar had his Brutus; Charles the First his Cromwell; and George the Third—" [Cries of "Treason! Treason!"] "George the Third may profit by their example. If this be treason, make the most of it. "

Patrick Henry's "Treason" speech before the House of Burgesses in an 1851 painting by Peter F. Rothermel

According to biographer Richard Beeman, the legend of this speech grew more dramatic over the years. Henry probably did not say the famous last line of the above quote, i. e. "If this be treason, make the most of it. " The only account of the speech written down at the time by an eyewitness (which came to light many years later) records that Henry actually apologized after being accused of uttering treasonable words, assuring the House that he was still loyal to the king. Nevertheless, Henry's passionate, radical speech caused quite a stir at the time, even if we cannot be certain of his exact words.

American Revolution

Patrick Henry is perhaps best known for the speech he made in the House of Burgesses on March 23, 1775, urging legislature to take military action against the encroaching British military force. Events 1174 - Jocelin, Abbot of Melrose, is elected Bishop of Glasgow. Year 1775 ( MDCCLXXV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The House was undecided as to whether to send troops or not, but was leaning toward not committing troops. As Henry stood in Saint John's Church in Richmond, Virginia, he ended his speech with his most famous words:

Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

The crowd jumped up and shouted "To Arms! To Arms!". St John's is an Episcopal church located in Richmond Virginia. This article is about the city of Richmond the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Problematically, the text of this speech did not appear in print until 1817, in the biography Life and Character of Patrick Henry by William Wirt. William Wirt ( November 8, 1772 &ndash February 18, 1834) was an American author and statesman who is credited with turning the Although Wirt assembled his book from recollections by persons close to the events, some historians have since speculated that the speech, or at least the form with which we are familiar, was essentially written by Wirt decades after the fact. ^[7]

Early in the Revolutionary War, Henry led militia against Royal Governor Lord Dunmore in defense of some disputed gunpowder, an event known as the Gunpowder Incident. In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" John Murray 4th Earl of Dunmore (1730 &ndash February 25, 1809) was a British peer and colonial governor Growing tension In early 1775 Dunmore saw rising unrest in the colony and sought to deprive Virginia militia of supplies needed for insurrection During the war, he served as the first post-colonial Governor of Virginia, from 1776-79, an office he held again from 1784-86. The Governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term

On 25 October 1777, Patrick Henry married his second wife, Dorothea Dandridge (1755–1831). Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a Year 1777 ( MDCCLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common From his marriage there were 11 children.

Later years

After the Revolution, Henry was an outspoken critic of the United States Constitution and urged against its adoption, arguing it gave the federal government too much power. The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme Law of the United States. As a leading Antifederalist, he was instrumental in forcing the adoption of the Bill of Rights to amend the new Constitution. In the United States the Bill of Rights is the name by which the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution are known He became a strong opponent of James Madison. James Madison Jr (March 16 1751 – June 28 1836 was an American Politician, the fourth President of the United States (1809–1817 and one of the Founding By the late 1790s he was a prominent Federalist in support of Washington and Adams. The irony is that most of his followers became Republicans who supported Jefferson's party. President George Washington offered him the post of Secretary of State in 1795, which he declined. In 1798 President John Adams nominated him special emissary to France, which he had to decline because of failing health. John Adams (October 30 1735 July 4 1826 was one of the most influential Founding Fathers of the United States. He strongly supported John Marshall and at the urging of Washington stood for the House of Delegates in 1799 as a staunch Federalist. John Marshall (September 24 1755 – July 6 1835 was an American statesman and jurist who shaped American constitutional law and made the Supreme Court a center of power He especially denounced the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions, which had been secretly written by Jefferson and Madison, and approved by the legislatures of those two states. The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions (or Resolves) were important political statements in favor of States' rights written secretly by Vice President Thomas He warned that civil war was threatened because Virginia, "had quitted the sphere in which she had been placed by the Constitution, and, in daring to pronounce upon the validity of federal laws, had gone out of her jurisdiction in a manner not warranted by any authority, and in the highest degree alarming to every considerate man; that such opposition, on the part of Virginia, to the acts of the general government, must beget their enforcement by military power; that this would probably produce civil war, civil war foreign alliances, and that foreign alliances must necessarily end in subjugation to the powers called in. " He was elected to the House of Delegates, but died three months prior to taking his seat. [Tyler, 413-20]

He died at Red Hill Plantation, Virginia, at the age of 63. Red Hill Patrick Henry National Memorial near Brookneal Virginia, honors Patrick

Monuments and memorials

• His home and gravesite has been designated Red Hill Patrick Henry National Memorial. Red Hill Patrick Henry National Memorial near Brookneal Virginia, honors Patrick
• The United States Navy submarine USS Patrick Henry (SSBN-599)
• The CSS Patrick Henry of the Confederate Navy were named in his honor, as was the first World War II Liberty ship, the SS Patrick Henry. A submarine is a Watercraft that can operate independently below water as distinct from a Submersible that has only limited underwater capability See also CSS ''Patrick Henry'' Career Still commonly referred to as Yorktown, she was assigned to a position near Mulberry Island in the James to protect the right flank of the Confederate The Confederate States Navy ( CSN) was the naval branch of the Confederate States Armed forces established by an act of the Confederate Congress World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including History and service In 1936 the American Merchant Marine Act was passed to subsidize the annual construction of 50 commercial merchant vessels to be used in wartime by The SS Patrick Henry was the first Liberty ship launched The ships initially had a poor public image and to try to assuage public opinion 27 September
• Emory & Henry College in Emory, Virginia
• Eight high schools (including three in Virginia, more than for any other person in the Commonwealth)
• Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Virginia is also named in his honor. Emory & Henry College, which is affiliated with the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church, is a small private Liberal arts college located in Washington Emory-Meadowview is a Census-designated place (CDP in Washington County, Virginia, United States. Patrick Henry College, or PHC, is a private independent Protestant College that focuses on teaching classical Liberal arts and Government Purcellville is a town in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States.
• The Patrick Henry Boys and Girls Plantation was established as a living legacy to Patrick Henry on property near his grave site donated by the Red Hill Patrick Henry National Memorial. It is a Christian residential facility for at risk youth.
• Henry helped to establish the Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia. Hampden-Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden-Sydney Virginia. It is the 10th oldest institution of higher education in the United States. Six of Patrick Henry's sons graduated from Hampden-Sydney. Future United States president William Henry Harrison also graduated from the College in 1791. This article is about the general and president For his great-great-grandson see William H
• Other places named in honor of Patrick Henry include:
  • Henry County, Virginia
  • Henry County, Kentucky
  • Patrick County, Virginia
  • Henry County, Georgia
  • Henry County, Ohio
  • Henry County, Tennessee
  • Henry County, Alabama
  • Henry County, Illinois
  • Henry County, Missouri after an 1841 name change
  • Patrick Henry Village in Heidelberg, Germany

Notes

References

• Beeman, Richard R. Patrick Henry: A Biography. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1974. ISBN 0-07-004280-2.
• Meade, Robert D. Patrick Henry. 2 volumes, 1957-1969.

See also

• Liberalism
• Contributions to liberal theory
• Patrick Henry League

External links

• Works by Patrick Henry at Project Gutenberg
• Quotations by Patrick Henry at Liberty-Tree. Liberalism is a broad array of related ideas and theories of Government that consider individual Liberty to be the most important political goal This is a partial list of individual contributions to liberal political theory on a worldwide scale Project Gutenberg, abbreviated as PG, is a volunteer effort to Digitize, archive and distribute Cultural works ca
• Hanover County, Virginia,[1] birthplace of Patrick Henry and location of the Hanover Tavern,[2] where Henry lived and worked early in his life, and Hanover Courthouse, where the Parson's Cause case was argued in 1763.
• Scotchtown Plantation, Henry family home from 1771 - 1778 [3], [4]
• St. Scotchtown, also known as Patrick Henry House, is a plantation located in Hanover County Virginia that was once owned and used as a residence by Patrick Henry John's Church (Richmond, Virginia), where Henry delivered "Liberty or death" speech in 1775 [5]
• Text of 1775 "Liberty or death" speech
• Red Hill Plantation (Charlotte County, Virginia), Henry's final home and burial place [6]
• Address opposing US Constitution
• Patrick Henry at Find-A-Grave
• Patrick Henry Letters