Patrick Henry

Patrick Henry Patrick Henry was a great patriot. He never used his fists or guns to fight

for his country, but he used a much more powerful weapon at which he held great skill:

his words. Possibly the greatest orator of his time, his speeches such as "Give Me Liberty

or Give Me Death" struck a cord in the American spirit of those who opposed oppression

and tyranny. Henry was born on May 29th, 1736 in Studley, Virginia. His schooling was

basic; elementary school, then trained in the classics by his father. His father, John Henry

was an well-educated Scotsman who was a surveyor, colonel, and justice of the local

county court. Still young, Patrick Henry first took up storekeeping in which he failed

twice, and then farming which also proved unsuccessful. Despite his early struggles he

then married Sara Shelton, and with the new responsibilities of marriage he took up the

practice of law. He was naturally talented in the new job and soon found himself very

successful. The first signs of his "oratorical genus" were shown in case in which he

represented Virginia asking for a change of law that had been disallowed by King George

III. After this case he was soon accepted as a member of the House of Burgesses. There

he delivered another famous speech opposing the Stamp Act. After concluded this speech

calls of "Treason! Treason!" rang though the hall, but Henry replied "If this be treason,

make the most of it." Thus began the li...