Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry, the Revolutionary orator who declared "Give me liberty, or give me death!", was born in Hanover County, Virginia.
- Profession
- Statesman, Orator, Attorney
- From
- Studley, Virginia
- Born
- May 29, 1736
- Years active
- 1760–1799
Early life
Born at Studley in Hanover County in 1736, Henry was largely self-taught and became a lawyer known for his spellbinding courtroom eloquence.
Career
A leading voice for independence, he served as Virginia's first post-colonial governor and pressed for the Bill of Rights as a condition of ratifying the Constitution.
Major achievements
His 1775 "Liberty or Death" speech at St. John's Church galvanized the Revolutionary cause.
Legacy
Henry is remembered as one of the greatest orators of the American Revolution and a champion of individual liberty.
References
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