Christian History Home > Issue 50 > Christianity and the American Revolution: A Gallery of Christians in the Cause
Christianity and the American Revolution: A Gallery of Christians in the Cause
Five devout champions of liberty and revolution.
Mark Couvillon is historical interpreter and researcher at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. He is co-author of "Patrick Henry Essays" (1994). | posted 4/01/1996 12:00AM
Patrick Henry
(1736–1799)
Eloquent thunderer
Inspired by his religious faith and passion for liberty, Patrick Henry not only fought against British tyranny but also the U.S. Constitution!
Born to a plain but respectable family in rural Virginia, Henry started his career at the age of 16 as a struggling storekeeper, and later as a farmer, before becoming a successful, self-taught lawyer in 1760. Educated by his father, Henry’s modest background won him the title of “man of the people.”
Henry first won fame as a young lawyer in 1763 by attacking the established Anglican clergy as “rapacious harpies” for demanding more money from their parishes. In 1765 he was elected to the Virginia legislature. Ten days after taking his seat, he started the sparks of revolution by calling the king and Parliament “tyrants” for taxing the people without their consent.
During the next ten years, Henry became the leader of the revolutionary movement in Virginia: “a Son of Thunder—Boanerges,” as one contemporary ... To view this item, you must be a member of ChristianHistory.net.
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