Patrick Henry

Born in Hanover County, Virginia, in 1736, Patrick Henry became one of the most influential orators of the Revolutionary era. He trained as a lawyer and first drew major attention in the 1760s, when his courtroom skill and bold criticism of British authority made him a rising figure in colonial politics.

He became a leading patriot in Virginia, served in the Continental Congress, and was a central voice in the movement for independence. Henry later served as the first governor of independent Virginia, and then returned for a second term years later. His 1775 speech to the Virginia Convention gave American history one of its most famous rallying cries.

Henry also played an important role in the debates over the U.S. Constitution. He warned that too much power might gather in the national government, and his objections helped fuel demands for stronger protections of individual rights. He died at Red Hill in Virginia in 1799, leaving behind a reputation for fearless speech and political conviction.