Paul Revere http://earlyamerica.com/paul_revere.htm

Paul Revere’s Background An American patriot and silversmith, Paul Revere was born in Boston, Jan. 1, 1735, and died May 10, 1818.

Silversmith and Artist Paul Revere was the son of a silversmith. Like his father, Revere learned how to make all kinds of things. He was a prominent silversmith and artist and also made bells.

In the above portrait, Paul Revere holds an unfinished silver teapot painted by John Singleton Copley around 1765. 

Sons of Liberty In the 1770s, Paul Revere became a strong supporter of American independence. Revere organized a network of more than 60 fellow artisans that formed the secret heart of Boston's Revolutionary movement.

The Boston Tea Party As an early supporter of independence, he joined with 50 other revolutionaries in the Boston Tea Party, an event in 1773 when American colonists destroyed many crates of tea on ships in Boston Harbor. This event was a protest against the English tax on tea in the colonies.

In the years before the American Revolution, Revere organized resistance to British authority and gathered intelligence information by watching the movements of  the British regulars.

According to Revere, "We frequently took turns, two and two, to watch the (British) soldiers by patrolling the streets all night."

Messenger for the Revolutionary Cause Paul Revere was designated as an express rider for the Committee of Correspondence to carry news, messages, and copies of resolutions for the Revolutionary cause.

Revere became a legendary hero at the start of the American Revolution, when he rode from Charlestown to Lexington, Massachusetts to warn the countryside of approaching British troops.

Paul Revere’s Ride

The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere On the night of April 18, 1775, Paul Revere took one of the most famous rides in history. Revere was instructed to ride to Lexington, Massachusetts, to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that British troops were marching to arrest them.

Paul Revere borrowed a horse from his friend Deacon John Larkin. "I told them what was Acting, and went to git me a Horse; I got a Horse of Deacon Larkin . . . I set off upon a very good Horse; it was then about 11 O'Clock and very pleasant" Letter Paul Revere to Jeremy Belknap, 1798

To prevent the British from possibly detaining him in Boston, when it was time to ride with his message, he was rowed across the Charles River to Charlestown and awaited a prearranged signal.

The agreed signal was two lanterns hung in the bell-tower of the Old North Church in Boston indicating that British troops would row by water across the Charles River to Cambridge or one lantern indicating that the British troops would march by land out Boston Neck.

Revere saw the two lanterns and was ready to start his ride. His Spread the Word! Revere saw the two lanterns and was ready to start his ride. His mission was to get the word out about the movements of British troops near Boston.

On the way to Lexington, Revere "alarmed" the country-side, stopping at each house to inform his fellow patriots that British troops were on the way.

The Regulars Are Coming! As he approached the house where Samuel Adams and John Hancock were staying, a sentry asked that he not make so much noise. "Noise!" cried Revere, "You'll have noise enough before long. The regulars are coming out!"

In Paul Revere's midnight ride to Lexington to announce the coming of British Regulars, he warned two patriot leaders, Samuel Adams and John Hancock that they were in danger of being arrested by the British, which enabled them to get away.

After delivering his message, Revere was joined by a second rider, William Dawes, who had been sent on the same errand by a different route.

Continue On! Revere and Dawes were joined by a third rider, Dr. Samuel Prescott. On April 16, 1775, deciding to Concord, Massachusetts, where weapons and supplies were hidden. They wanted to tell the patriots to move their weapons.

Detained They started for Concord, but all three were arrested by a British patrol. Prescott escaped almost immediately, and Dawes soon after. Only Prescott reached Concord. Revere was held for some time and then released.

War Begins The next day the Revolutionary War began. And because of Revere, the patriots were ready. During the war, he made supplies to help in the fighting. Revere also served as a lieutenant colonel.

Paul Revere's most famous contribution to U. S Paul Revere's most famous contribution to U.S. history has been passed down over the years in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's famous poem 'Paul Revere's Ride' which was published in 1861. He has since become a national folk hero.

Paul Revere's Ride Listen, my children, and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five; Hardly a man is now alive Who remembers that famous day and year.

He said to his friend, "If the British march By land or sea from the town to-night, Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch Of the North Church tower as a signal light, One, if by land, and two, if by sea; And I on the opposite shore will be, Ready to ride and spread the alarm Through every Middlesex village and farm, For the country folk to be up and to arm.

Two Views of the Midnight Ride COMPARE-CONTRAST WORKSHEET Two Views of the Midnight Ride                                     Henry Wadsworth Longfellow                                               Paul Revere Student Instructions: The boxes contain descriptions of Midnight Ride events according to Longfellow (left). Be sure to examine the time line of the Real Midnight Ride. Write in a factual description of the events according to Paul Revere and later historians. Hint: There are two major inaccuracies in Longfellow's poem: (1) the purpose of the lanterns hung in the Old North Church tower, and (2) Revere's 2 AM arrival in Concord.

Paul Revere's Ride The Real Ride In the poem... the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow The Real Ride as told by Paul Revere In the poem... Paul asked a friend to warn him of a British march from Boston by hanging one or two lanterns in the Old North Church tower. What really happened was... Paul Revere was the only rider ready to ride and warn of British Regulars marching from Boston. Paul waited impatiently across the river for the lantern signal. After seeing the two lanterns in the Old North Church steeple, Paul mounted his own horse and began his ride. Paul rode through Medford, Lexington, and finally reached Concord as the clock struck two.