Patrick Henry (1736–99) was an American statesman, lawyer, and orator best known for his fiery speeches advocating independence from Britain. His declaration, “Give me liberty or give me death!” (1775,) became a rallying cry of the American Revolution.
Born in Studley, Virginia, Henry was largely self-educated. After failed attempts at farming and business, he turned to law, quickly gaining prominence for his persuasive courtroom arguments. His victory in the Parson’s Cause case (1763) established his reputation as a defender of colonial rights.
Henry opposed British taxation, leading resistance against the Stamp Act (1765) in the Virginia House of Burgesses. He later served as a delegate to the First Continental Congress (1774) and helped Virginia move toward independence. As governor (1776–79, 1784–86,) he mobilized troops for the Revolutionary War. Although he feared the U.S. Constitution granted excessive federal power, he later supported the Bill of Rights. His speeches and writings, including contributions to Virginia’s Declaration of Rights (1776,) shaped early American political thought.
Biographies include Robert Douthat Meade’s Patrick Henry: Patriot in the Making (1957,) Merrill D. Peterson’s Patrick Henry: Practical Revolutionary (1980,) and Harlow Giles Unger’s Lion of Liberty (2010,) each examining his political philosophy and role in American independence.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Patrick Henry
The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government—lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.
—Patrick Henry
Topics: Government
We are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of Nature has placed in our power.. the battle, sir, is not to the strong alone it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.
—Patrick Henry
Topics: Courage
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future by the past.
—Patrick Henry
Topics: Future, The Future, Reflection, Past, Experience
Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense?
—Patrick Henry
Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined.
—Patrick Henry
Topics: Liberty, Attention
The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them
—Patrick Henry
Topics: Government
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