Patrick Henry

     Patrick Henry was born in Hanover Country, Virgina.  He received most of his education from his father and uncle.  He had first begun his career as a farmer, but than he switched to working in a tavern after a fire burned down his home.  During 1760, Patrick Henry had decided to become a lawyer.  He had realized that he wanted to help people and had a talent for public speaking.  The arguments he had against the British made him very well-known.  He also protested against the Stamp Act.  After the Boston Tea Party, he traveled with Washington to Philadelphia for the First Continental Congress.  Then, during the very peak of his career, he made one of the most famous speeches in American History.  He convinced people that they must fight against the British.  Give me Liberty or give me Death!  This speech motivated Virgina to march towards independence.  After signing the Declaration of Independence during July 4, 1776, he has elected first governor of Virgina.  He then accomplished a difficult feat of changing the royal colony into a self-governing republic.  Patrick Henry died of cancer on June 6, 1799 on his plantation in Red Hill, Virginia.  Patrick Henry was a leader, a public speaker, and a lawyer.  He had used his life to help bring the American Revolution.  We could not have done this without him.