Patrick Henry

Date of Birth: May 29, 1736

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: June 6, 1799

Biography

Patrick Henry was an American attorney, planter, and politician who became known as an orator during the movement for independence in Virginia in the 1770s. Born on May 29, 1736, in Hanover County, Virginia, he was a prominent figure in the American Revolution and is best remembered for his declaration to the Second Virginia Convention: “Give me liberty, or give me death!” Henry served as the first and sixth post-colonial Governor of Virginia, and he was an influential leader in the adoption of the Bill of Rights. His passionate speeches and fervent advocacy for individual liberties made him a key figure in shaping the early American political landscape.

5 Interesting Facts about Patrick Henry

1. Patrick Henry was largely self-taught in the field of law, yet he became one of the most successful attorneys in Virginia.

2. He was elected as the first Governor of Virginia in 1776 and served five terms in total.

3. Henry was an influential Anti-Federalist, opposing the ratification of the United States Constitution without a Bill of Rights.

4. His famous “Give me liberty, or give me death!” speech was delivered at St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia, on March 23, 1775.

5. Patrick Henry was also a plantation owner and held slaves, which is a controversial aspect of his legacy.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Patrick Henry

1. “Give me liberty, or give me death!”

2. “The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government.”

3. “The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.”

4. “I know of no way of judging the future but by the past.”

5. “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Patrick Henry’s net worth at his peak is difficult to estimate in modern terms, but as a successful lawyer and large plantation owner, he was considered quite wealthy for his time.

Children

Patrick Henry had 17 children from two marriages. He married Sarah Shelton in 1754, and they had six children before her death. He then married Dorothea Dandridge in 1777, with whom he had eleven children.