Paul Revere
Paul Revere was a successful business man, silversmith, and great patriot of the American Revolution. He is well known for his “Midnight Ride” which was made famous by the poem Paul Revere’s Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Personal Life
Revere was born to Apollos ‘Paul’ Rivoire and Deborah Hichborn in 1734 (his actual birthdate and birthplace are unknown) and was their third child and eldest surviving son. From age seven until age thirteen, Paul was educated at the North Writing School on the north end of Boston. After leaving school, Paul learned gold and silversmithing from his father. This knowledge become vital when at age 19 Paul became the main source of income after his father’s death.
In 1756, Revere was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Massachusetts Artillery. He was sent to fight the French in upstate New York until 1756 when he returned home to rebuild his family’s silver business. In 1757, he married Sarah Orne and they had eight children together. After her death in 1773, he married Rachel Walker and they had eight more children.
​
Career and Politics
Painting of Paul Revere found on americaninno.com via Google Images.
Paul Revere had a strong influence among the local politics of Boston; he acted as a courier for the Continental Congress. used his business to oppose England and supply the Colonial army with ammunition.
​ Paul worked as a courier for the Boston Committee of Correspondence and the Massachusetts Committee of Safety. After the Boston Tea Party – which he participated in – he spread the word of the event to New York and Philadelphia the morning after. Revere was a Freemason and a member of the Masonic Lodge of St. Andrew. Under the cover of this membership, he was able to gather intelligence on the British by “watching the movements of the British.”
On April 18, 1775, Revere made his famous midnight ride. He was watching the movements of the British and oversaw warning the colonial army of their movements. Revere’s instructions were to watch for the signal at Old North Church then ride to Lexington to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams of how the British soldiers would be approaching.
Revere opened his own foundry in 1788, creating materials for the nearby shipyards. At this foundry he created the brass fittings used on the USS Constitution. The foundry also produced cannons and cast bells – one of the largest bells still rings at King’s Chapel in Boston. In 1801, Revere opened his own copper rolling mill because he did not want to import copper from Britain. This mill was the first successful mill in North America.
Sources: https://www.paulreverehouse.org/paul-revere-house/
​
​
​
​
​
​
Paul Revere's grave marker located in the Granary Burial Ground in Boston Massachusetts.