Paul Revere

By: Bennet

http://www.biography.com/people/paul-revere-9456172

Paul Revere was made famous by the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem, “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.” Mr. Revere developed a system of lanterns to warn the town of Lexington, Massachusetts, that the British were coming. You will often hear that very quote stated when referring to him, as well as, “One if by land, two if by sea.”

Paul Revere was born January 1, 1735, in Massachusetts. His father was a silversmith who died in 1754. His mother was a member of a well-established Boston family. She died in 1777. When Paul’s dad died, Paul was legally too young to own a silver shop. Once Paul became of age, he then owned his father’s shop.

In 1775, the Revolutionary War began. Joseph Warren sent Paul to warn the Massachusetts Provincial Congress. To choose which route to take, Paul hung lanterns and told the people they would know where to expect the British by the number of lanterns hung: “One if by land, two if by sea.” When the war ended in 1783, there was a shortage of gunpowder, so Paul went to work on a powder mill.

In the beginning of 1792, he became one of America’s top bell casters and the Grand Master of the Freemasons. He also became the first person to successfully make copper sheets. After Paul’s death on May 1, 1818, his son Joseph Warren Revere took over the business. The Revere Copper Company still stands today. You can see his silverware, engravings and other works at the Museum of Fine Arts.

Although Paul is most remembered for his midnight ride, perhaps his greatest contributions came from his hammer and chisel. He was a man of many talents and was important in Boston’s success in resisting the authority of the British Parliament.

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Presentation Notes:

"Hello good sir/madam. Who might you be? Larry, ok, I'm the person who said the British are coming oh don't forget the time I hung up the lanterns do you know who I am or the time I did the midnight ride."