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Revere's Early Life

Born in Boston's North End in December, 1734, Paul Revere was the son of Apollos Rivoire, a French Huguenot (Protestant) immigrant, and Deborah Hichborn, daughter of a local artisan family. Rivoire, who changed his name to Paul Revere some time after immigrating, was a goldsmith and eventually the head of a large household. Paul Revere was the second of at least 9, possibly as many as 12 children and the eldest surviving son.

Paul was educated at the North Writing School and learned the art of gold and silversmithing from his father. When Paul was nineteen (and nearly finished with his apprenticeship) his father died, leaving Paul as the family's main source of income. Two years later, in 1756, Revere volunteered to fight the French at Lake George, New York, where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the colonial artillery.

In August, 1757, Revere married Sarah Orne. Together, they had eight children. Soon after Sarah's death in 1773, Revere married Rachel Walker with whom he had eight children.

Revere Silversmith / Craftsman

Revere's primary vocation, a trade he learned from his father, was that of goldsmith/silversmith, meaning he worked in both gold and silver. His silvershop was the cornerstone of his professional life for more than 40 years. As the master of his silversmith shop, Revere was responsible for both the workmanship and the quality of the metal alloy used. He employed numerous apprentices and journeymen to produce pieces ranging from simple spoons to magnificent full tea sets. His work, highly praised during his lifetime, is regarded as one of the outstanding achievements in American decorative arts.

Revere also supplemented his income with other work. During the economic depression before the Revolution, Revere began his work as a copper plate engraver. He produced illustrations for books and magazines, business cards, political cartoons, bookplates, a song book and bills of fare for taverns. He also advertised as a dentist from 1768 to 1775. He not only cleaned teeth, but also wired in false teeth carved from walrus ivory or animal teeth. Contrary to popular myth, he did not make George Washington's false teeth. Fabricating a full set of dentures was beyond his ability.

Political Activities / Revolutionary War

Revere's political involvement arose through his connections with members of local organizations and his business patrons. As a member of the Masonic Lodge of St. Andrew, he was friendly with activists like James Otis and Dr. Joseph Warren. In the year before the Revolution, Revere gathered intelligence information by "watching the Movements of British Soldiers," as he wrote in an account of his ride. He was a courier for the Boston Committee of Correspondence and the Massachusetts Committee of Safety, riding express to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. He also spread the word of the Boston Tea Party to New York and Philadelphia.

At 10 pm on the night of April 18, 1775, Revere received instructions from Dr. Joseph Warren to ride to Lexington to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams of the British approach. The war erupted and Revere went on to serve as lieutenant colonel in the Massachusetts State Train of Artillery and commander of Castle Island in Boston Harbor. Revere and his troops saw little action at this post, but they did participate in minor expeditions to Newport, Rhode Island and Worcester, Mass. Revere's rather undistinguished military career ended with the failed Penobscot expedition.

Paul Revere Industrialist - Post War Businesses

Revere expanded his business interests in the years following the Revolution. He imported goods from England and ran a small hardware store until 1789. By 1788 he had opened a foundry which supplied bolts, spikes and nails for North End shipyards (including brass fittings for the U.S.S. Constitution), produced cannons and, after 1792, cast bells. One of his largest bells still rings in Boston's Kings Chapel.

Concerned that the United States had to import sheet copper from England, Revere opened the first copper rolling mill in North America in 1801. He provided copper sheeting for the hull of the U.S.S. Constitution and the dome of the new Massachusetts State House in 1803. Revere Copper and Brass, Inc., the descendent of Revere's rolling mill is best known for "Revereware" copper-bottomed pots and pans. Revereware is now, however, manufactured by another company.

Revere's community and social involvements were extensive. He was a Freemason from 1760 to 1809 and held several offices in St. Andrew's and Rising States Lodges as well as the Massachusetts Grand Lodge. A member of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics Association, Revere also served as the association's first president. Founded in 1794, the group was an organization of artisans, and small businessmen who sought to improve the conditions under which their peers worked and aided members in "distressed" circumstances.

Last Years

In 1811, at the age of 76, Paul Revere retired and left his well-established copper business in the hand of his sons and grandsons. Revere seems to have remained healthy in his final years, despite the personal sorrow caused by the deaths of his wife Rachel and son Paul in 1813. Revere died of natural causes on May 10, 1818 at the age of 83, leaving five children, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The son of an immigrant artisan, not born to wealth or inheritance, Revere died a modestly well-to-do businessman and a popular local figure of some note. An obituary in the Boston Intelligence commented, "seldom has the tomb closed upon a life so honorable and useful." Paul Revere is buried in Boston's Granary Burying Ground.

Educational and further reading sources:
www.seacoastnh.com
www.city-net.com
Paul Revere's Ride by David Hacket Fischer, Oxford University Press, 1994.

IN HIS OWN WORDS

I, PAUL REVERE, of Boston, in the colony of the Massachusetts Bay in New England; of lawful age, do testify and say; that I was sent for by Dr. Joseph Warren, of said Boston, on the evening of the 18th of April, about 10 o'clock; when he desired me, ''to go to Lexington, and inform Mr. Samuel Adams, and the Hon. John Hancock Esq. that there was a number of soldiers, composed of light troops, and grenadiers, marching to the bottom of the common, where there was a number of boats to receive them; it was supposed that they were going to Lexington, by the way of Cambridge River, to take them, or go to Concord, to destroy the colony stores.''

I proceeded immediately, and was put across Charles River and landed near Charlestown Battery; went in town, and there got a horse. While in Charlestown, I was informed by Richard Devens Esq. that he met that evening, after sunset, nine officers of the ministerial army, mounted on good horses, and armed, going towards Concord.

Quote by Dr. Joseph Warren:
"These fellows say we won't fight; by Heavens! I hope I shall die up to my knees in blood."

I set off, it was then about 11 o'clock, the moon shone bright. I had got almost over Charlestown Common, towards Cambridge, when I saw two officers on horse-back, standing under the shade of a tree, in a narrow part of the road. I was near enough to see their holsters and cockades. One of them started his horse towards me, the other up the road, as I supposed, to head me, should I escape the first. I turned my horse short about, and rode upon a full gallop for Mistick Road. He followed me about 300 yards, and finding he could not catch me, returned. I proceeded to Lexington, through Mistick, and alarmed Mr. Adams and Col. Hancock.

After I had been there about half an hour Mr. Daws arrived, who came from Boston, over the Neck.

We set off for Concord, and were overtaken by a young gentleman named Prescot, who belonged to Concord, and was going home. When we had got about half way from Lexington to Concord, the other two stopped at a house to awake the men, I kept along.

When I had got about 200 yards ahead of them, I saw two officers as before. I called to my company to come up, saying here was two of them, (for I had told them what Mr. Devens told me, and of my being stopped). In an instant I saw four of them, who rode up to me with their pistols in their bands, said ''G---d d---n you, stop. If you go an inch further, you are a dead man.''

Immediately Mr. Prescot came up. We attempted to get through them, but they kept before us, and swore if we did not turn in to that pasture, they would blow our brains out, (they had placed themselves opposite to a pair of bars, and had taken the bars down). They forced us in. When we had got in, Mr. Prescot said ''Put on!'' He took to the left, I to the right towards a wood at the bottom of the pasture, intending, when I gained that, to jump my horse and run afoot.

Just as I reached it, out started six officers, seized my bridle, put their pistols to my breast, ordered me to dismount, which I did. One of them, who appeared to have the command there, and much of a gentleman, asked me where I came from; I told him. He asked what time I left . I told him, he seemed surprised, said ''Sir, may I crave your name?'' I answered ''My name is Revere. ''What'' said he, ''Paul Revere''? I answered ''Yes.''

The others abused much; but he told me not to be afraid, no one should hurt me. I told him they would miss their aim. He said they should not, they were only waiting for some deserters they expected down the road. I told him I knew better, I knew what they were after; that I had alarmed the country all the way up, that their boats were caught aground, and I should have 500 men there soon. One of them said they had 1500 coming; he seemed surprised and rode off into the road, and informed them who took me, they came down immediately on a full gallop.

One of them (whom I since learned was Major Mitchel of the 5th Reg.) clapped his pistol to my head, and said he was going to ask me some questions, and if I did not tell the truth, he would blow my brains out. I told him I esteemed myself a man of truth, that he had stopped me on the highway, and made me a prisoner, I knew not by what right; I would tell him the truth; I was not afraid. He then asked me the same questions that the other did, and many more, but was more particular; I gave him much the same answers. He then ordered me to mount my horse, they first searched me for pistols.

When I was mounted, the Major took the reins out of my hand, and said ''By G---d Sir, you are not to ride with reins I assure you''; and gave them to an officer on my right, to lead me. He then ordered 4 men out of the bushes, and to mount their horses; they were country men which they had stopped who were going home; then ordered us to march. He said to me, ''We are now going towards your friends, and if you attempt to run, or we are insulted, we will blow your brains out.''

When we had got into the road they formed a circle, and ordered the prisoners in the center, and to lead me in the front. We rode towards Lexington at a quick pace; they very often insulted me calling me rebel, etc., etc. After we had got about a mile, I was given to the sergeant to lead, he was ordered to take out his pistol, (he rode with a hanger,) and if I ran, to execute the major's sentence.

When we got within about half a mile of the Meeting House we heard a gun fired. The Major asked me what it was for, I told him to alarm the country; he ordered the four prisoners to dismount, they did, then one of the officers dismounted and cut the bridles and saddles off the horses, and drove them away, and told the men they might go about their business. I asked the Major to dismiss me, he said he would carry me, let the consequence be what it will. He then ordered us to march.

When we got within sight of the Meeting House, we heard a volley of guns fired, as I supposed at the tavern, as an alarm; the Major ordered us to halt, he asked me how far it was to Cambridge, and many more questions, which I answered. He then asked the sergeant, if his horse was tired, he said yes; he ordered him to take my horse.

I dismounted, and the sergeant mounted my horse; they cut the bridle and saddle of the sergeant's horse, and rode off down the road. I then went to the house were I left Messrs. Adams and Hancock, and told them what had happened; their friends advised them to go out of the way; I went with them, about two miles across road.

After resting myself, I set off with another man to go back to the tavern, to inquire the news; when we got there, we were told the troops were within two miles. We went into the tavern to get a trunk of papers belonging to Col. Hancock. Before we left the house, I saw the ministerial troops from the chamber window.

We made haste, and had to pass through our militia, who were on a green behind the Meeting House, to the number as I supposed, about 50 or 60, I went through them; as I passed I heard the commanding officer speak to his men to this purpose; ''Let the troops pass by, and don't molest them, without they begin first.''

I had to go across road; but had not got half gunshot off, when the ministerial troops appeared in sight, behind the Meeting House. They made a short halt, when one gun was fired. I heard the report, turned my head, and saw the smoke in front of the troops. They immediately gave a great shout, ran a few paces, and then the whole fired. I could first distinguish irregular firing, which I supposed was the advance guard, and then platoons; at this time I could not see our militia, for they were covered from me by a house at the bottom of the street.

s/PAUL REVERE.

On this Day In History

Birthdates which occurred on September 20:
357 BC- Alexander III the Great, king of Macedonia, emperor
1833 Ernesto Teodoro Moneta Italy, journalist (Nobel Peace Prize 1907)
1842 Lord James Dewar, physician who invented the vacuum flask and cordite, the first smokeless powder.
1878 Upton Sinclair novelist (Jungle)
1885 Ferdinand Lamenthe (Jelly Roll Morton), jazz pianist, composer and singer, one of the first to orchestrate jazz music.
1899 Elliot Nugent director (And so They were Married)
1902 Kermit Maynard Vevey Ind, cowboy actor (Saturday Roundup)
1902 Steve Smith singer (Lawrence Welk Show)
1910 Jacques-Baptise LeBrun France, finn yachtsman (Olympic-gold-1932)
1911 Frank Devol Moundsville WV, orch leader (I'm Dickens He's Fenster)
1917 Arnold "Red" Auerbach NBA coach/GM (Boston Celtics)
1920 Alexander Thereat
1922 Frank Comstock SD Calif, orch leader (Jimmie Rodgers Show)
1924 James Galanos Phila, fashion designer (Coty Hall of Fame-1959)
1927 Clarice Taylor Va, actress (Nurse Bailey-Nurse)
1927 Rachel Roberts Wales, actress (Foul Play, Doctor's Wife)
1928 Dr Joyce Brothers NYC, pop psychiatrist ($64,000 question winner)
1929 Anne Meara Bkln NY comedian/actress (Stiller & Meara, Archie's Place)
1933 Bob Banas NYC, choreographer (Malibu U, Jonathan Winters Show)
1934 Sophia Loren Rome, actress (Desire Under the Elms, Black Orchid)
1936 Dany Carrel Touraine Indo-china, actress (Passionate Summer)
1938 Pia Lindstom entertainment critic (WNBC-TV)
1938 Tom Tresh NY Yankee (1962 AL Rookie of the Year)
1941 Dale Chihuly Tacoma Wash, artist in glass (Louis Tiffany Award 1967)
1941 John A Wismont Jr Calif, watercolor painter (over 50,000)
1950 Debi Morgan Dunn NC, actress (Angie-All My Children, Cry Uncle)
1950 Loredana Berte Milan Italy, 2nd wife of Bjorn Borg
1951 Guy LaFleur Quebec, NHL right wing (Montreal, NY Rangers)
1951 JoAnna Cameron Colo, actress (I Love My Wife, Isis)
1954 Brinke Stevens [Charlene Brinkman] Ca, actr (Slumber Party Massacre)
1954 Silvio Leonard Cuba, 100m sprinter (Olympic-silver-1980)
1957 Fran Drescher NYC, actress (Cadillac Man)
1957 Vladmir Tkachenko USSR, basketball (Olympic-bronze-1980)
1959 Alannah Currie rocker (Thompson Twins-Doctor, Doctor)
1966 Nuno Bettencourt Azores, rock guitarist (Extreme-More Than Words)
1967 Gunnar Nelson rock singer (Nelsons-Love & Affection)
1967 Matthew Nelson rock singer (Nelsons-Love & Affection)

Deaths which occurred on September 20:
19BC The Roman poet Virgil
1168 Paschal III, [Guido di Crema], Italian anti-Pope, dies
1327 King Edward II of England was murdered under the connivance of the queen.
1586 Anthony Babington, page/conspirator to Mary Stuart, executed at 24
1803 Robert Emmet, Irish nationalist, executed
1863 Jakob Grimm, writer, dies at 78 (Grimms Brothers)
1947 Fiorello La Guardia (Mayor-R-NYC), dies
1957 Jean Sibelius Finnish composer, dies at 91
1959 Olin Howlin actor (Swifty-Circus Boy), dies at 63
1971 James Westerfield actor (Travels of Jaime McPheeters), dies at 59
1973 Jim Croce singer/songwriter (Time In A Bottle, Bad Bad Leroy Brown), dies in a plane crash at 30
1973 Glenn Strange actor (Sam the Bartender-Gunsmoke), dies at 74
1974 Gail A. Cobb, a member of the Metropolitan Police Force of Washington, D.C., became the first female police officer to be killed in the line of duty.

Reported: MISSING in ACTION
1965 BLACK ARTHUR N. BETHLEHEM PA.
[02/12/73 RELEASED BY DRV, ALIVE AND WELL 98]
1965 CURTIS THOMAS J. HOUSTON TX.
[02/12/73 RELEASED BY DRV, ALIVE AND WELL 98]
1965 FORBY WILLIS E. ONAKA SD.
[02/12/73 RELEASED BY DRV, ALIVE IN 98]
1965 HAWKINS EDGAR LEE LAMESA TX.
1965 MARTIN DUANE W. DENVER CO.
[REPORTED KILLED BY NATIVES]
1965 ROBINSON WILLIAM A. ROBERSONVILLE NC.
[02/12/73 RELEASED BY DRV, ALIVE AND WELL 98]
1965 SMITH PHILIP E. ROODHOUSE IL.
[03/15/73 RELEASED BY CHINA, ALIVE IN 98]
1966 BLOOM RICHARD MCAULIFFE SAN FRANCISCO CA.
1972 LESTER RODERICK B. MORTON WA.

POW / MIA Data & Bios supplied by
the P.O.W. NETWORK. Skidmore, MO. USA.

On this day...
480 BC Themistocles and his Greek fleet win one of history's first decisive naval victories over Xerxes' Persian force off Salamis.
0451 General Aetius defeats Attila the Hun at Chalons-sur-Marne
622 Mohammad's Hegira
1519 Magellan starts 1st successful circumnavigation of the world
1561 Queen Elizabeth of England signs a treaty at Hamptan Court with French Huguenot leader Louis de Bourbon, the Prince of Conde. The English will occupy Le Harve in return for aiding Bourbon against the Catholics of France.
1565 Spaniards capture Fort Caroline Fla & massacre the French
1664 Maryland enacts 1st anti-amaglmation law to prevent widespread intermarriage of English women & black men
1777 - Paoli, PA massacre of sleeping Continental troops by British Dragoons
1792 French defeat Prussians at Valmy
1784 Packet and Daily, the first daily publication in America, appears on the streets.
1797 US frigate Constitution (Old Ironsides) launched in Boston
1830 1st National Black convention meets (Phila)
1850 Slave trade abolished in DC, but slavery allowed to continue
1854 British & French defeat Russians at Alma, in the Crimea
1859 Patent granted on the electric range
1860 1st British royalty to visit US, Prince of Wales (King Edward VII)
1863 Civil War Battle of Chickamauga, near Chattanooga, Tenn, ends
1873 Panic sweeps NY Stock Exchange (railroad bond default/bank failure)
1877 Chase National Bank opens in NYC (later merges into Chase Manhattan)
1879 US Grant comes to SF for elaborate extended visit
1881 Chester A Arthur sworn in as president
1884 6.2 mile Arlberg railroad tunnel completed in Austria
1884 Equal Rights Party nominates female candidates for Pres & VP
1902 Chic White Sox Jim Callahan no-hits Detroit Tigers, 3-0
1907 Pitts Nick Maddox no-hits Bkln Dodgers, 2-1
1908 Chic White Sox Frank Smith 2nd no-hitter, beats Phila 1-0
1911 Yanks set team record 12 errors in a double header
1933 Pittsburgh Steelers (as Pirates) play 1st NFL game, lose 23-2
1942 Gunther Hagg becomes world champ of all records from 1500m to 5000m
1945 German rocket engineers begin work in US
1946 Churchill argues for a "US of Europe"
1948 Mexican Baseball league disbanded
1949 Tennis player Pancho Gonzales turns professional
1951 Swiss males votes against female suffrage
1951 1st North Pole jet crossing
1951 Ford Frick elected commissioner of baseball
1954 1st FORTRAN computer program run
1954 1st National People's Congress adopts Chinese constitution
1954 Roger Bannister awarded Britain's Silver Pears Trophy
1958 Baltimore Oriole knuckler Hoyt Wilhelm no-hits NY Yankees 1-0
1958 Martin Luther King Jr stabbed in chest by a deranged black woman in NYC
1960 UN General Assembly admit 13 African countries & Cyprus (96 nations)
1961 After 84 1/3 innings Bill Fischer gives up a base on balls
1961 Roger Maris hits home run # 59 & barely misses # 60 in game 154 of the season. Yanks clinch pennant #26
1962 James Meredith is blocked from entering Miss U as its 1st black
1964 Paramount theater (NYC) presented the Beatles & Steve & Eydie
1966 US Surveyor B launched toward Moon; crashed Sept 23
1967 Hurricane Beulah hits Texas-Mexican border, kills 38
1968 Mickey Mantle hits final career homer # 536
1969 Pitts Pirate Bob Moose no-hits NY Giants, 4-0
1970 Luna 16 lands on Moon's Mare Fecunditatis, drills core sample
1972 Police find cannabis growing on Paul & Linda McCartney's farm
1973 Billy Jean King beats Bobby Riggs in battle-of-sexes tennis match
1973 Willie Mays announces retirement at end of 1973 season
1975 David Bowie's "Fame," single goes #1 for 2 weeks
1975 Gary Sentman draws a record 176 lb longbow to a maximum 28¬" draw
1976 Playboy releases Jimmy Carter's interview that he lusts for women
1976 Sid Berstein offers $230 million charity concert for Beatle reunion
1977 Voyager 2 launched for fly-by of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
1979 Bloodless coup in Central African Rep overthrows Emperor Bokassa I
1979 NASA launches HEAO
1980 Plaque dedicated in Thurman Munson's memory at Yankee Stadium
1980 Spectacular Bid runs in Belmont alone as 3 horses drop out
1981 Joe Danelo kicks then NY Giant record 55 yard field goal
1982 NFL players begin a 57 day strike
1983 3,112 turn out to see the Pirates play the NY Mets at Shea Stadium
1984 Suicide car bomb attacks US Embassy annex in Beirut
1985 Curtis Strong is convicted for selling cocaine to pro baseball players
1985 Walt Disney World's 200-millionth guest
1986 Wichita State Shockers blow a 35-3 lead; lose 36-35 to Morehead State
1987 Alain Prost wins record 28th Formula one auto race
1987 Walter Payton scores NFL record 107th rushing touchdown
1990 Both Germanys ratify reunification
1990 Saddam Hussein demands US networks broadcast his message
1991 On Capitol Hill, Senate hearings on the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court concluded.
1992 French voters narrowly approved the Maastricht Treaty on European unity.
2000 Independent Counsel Robert Ray announced the end of the Whitewater investigation, saying there was insufficient evidence to warrant charges against President Clinton and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.
2001 America demanded that Afghanistan hand over Osama bin Laden, the suspected mastermind in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Otherwise, he said, the Taliban wouild share his fate.
2001 Gov. Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania was named by President Bush to head the new Office of Homeland Security.

Holidays
Note: Some Holidays are only applicable on a given "day of the week"

Laos : Thanksgiving
UN observance : Intl Day of Peace (Tuesday)
Birthday of Quetzacoatl (Incan holiday).
Pleasure Your Mate Month
Self Improvement Month

Religious Observances
Ang, RC : Ember Day
RC : Commemoration of St Eustace & his companions/martyrs
RC : Mem of SS Andrew Kim, Paul Chong & companions, Korean martyrs
Ang : St John Coleridge Patteson, Bishop of Melanesia/companions

Religious History
1378 The Great Schism in the Catholic Church began. It was touched off when Gregory XI died, shortly after returning the papal seat from Avignon, in France, to Rome. Continuing for nearly 40 years (until 1417), the Schism at one point produced three concurrent popes!
1883 Birth of Albrecht Alt, German Lutheran Old Testament scholar. "Biblia Hebraica" (13th ed., 1962), which Alt edited with Rudolph Kittel, became a standard critical Hebrew text of the Old Testament among students of the Bible for years.
1932 Four branches of Methodism in England united to form the Methodist Church of Great Britain and Ireland. These were the Wesleyan Methodists (founded 1784), the Primitive Methodists (1811), the United Methodist Free Churches (1857) and the United Methodists (1907).
1947 English apologist C.S. Lewis wrote in a letter: 'Those who suffer the same things from the same people for the same Person can scarcely not love each other.'
1948 American missionary Jim Elliot -- eight years before his martyrdom at the hands of the Auca Indians of Ecuador -- penned in his journal: 'I am Thine at terrible cost to Thyself. Now Thou must become mine -- as Thou didst not attend to the price, neither would I.'

Source: William D. Blake. ALMANAC OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1987.

Thought for the day :
"Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense....dancing."

You might be Italian if...You have ever been in a fight defending Sly Stallone's thespian greatness.

Murphys Law of the day...(Andrews's Canoeing Postulate)
No matter which direction you start it's always against the wind coming back.

It's a little known fact that...
The first brand of Wrigley's chewing gum was called "Vassar", after the New England woman's college. Next were "Lotta" and "Sweet Sixteen Orange."