- March 6, 1809, 217 years ago — Death of Thomas Heyward Jr..
- March 6, 1724, 302 years ago — Birth of Henry Laurens, President of the Continental Congress.
- March 7, 1707, 319 years ago — Birth of Stephen Hopkins, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
- March 7, 1699, 327 years ago — Birth of Susanna Boylston Adams, mother of John Adams.
Thomas Paine
PAINE, Thomas, political writer and revolutionary, born in Thetford, England, 29 January, 1737; died in New York City, 8 June, 1809.
He emigrated to America in 1774 and quickly became a leading voice for independence. His pamphlet Common Sense (1776) galvanized colonial support for revolution, and The American Crisis inspired troops during the war.
Paine also supported democratic movements in France and wrote The Rights of Man in defense of the French Revolution. His later work, The Age of Reason, challenged organized religion and sparked controversy.
Though celebrated early on, Paine died in relative obscurity. His legacy as a radical thinker and champion of liberty remains central to revolutionary history.
Source:
Wilson, James Grant, and John Fiske, eds. Appleton’s Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1887. Patriot Echoes Archive
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