Paul Revere Essay, Research Paper

Paul Revere was a man of many talents, a "Jack Of All Trades" if you will. Patriot, silversmith, engraver, and republican, he was destined to be a hero. Born to parents Apollos De Rivoire, a French Huguenot, and Deborah Hitchbourn, Paul Revere came into the world on January 1, 1735 in Boston Massachusetts. Clark?s Wharf is where the Reveres resided now. The third born of eight children Revere learned early the lesson of perseverance, a lesson that would be an important in his later life, Revere would need to keep on going no mater what obstacles appeared in his way. Revere attended school in Boston where he got a sufficient education as well as in the shop with his father and the wharves of where he lived. As Revere grows in age he upholds many different jobs, including being a bell ringer for Christ?s Church, an Episcopal parish. Around the time of Reveres newly found job the first indications of the Revolutionary War were be gossiped about around the town. On the Sunday morning in which he was to toll the bell of Christ?s church a young boy heard the first gun of the revolution. Revere didn?t know this yet but his honorable duty lay within that revolution. On the twenty-second day of July, 1754 Reveres father died in his sleep. He was buried in the Old Granary. Paul was very distraught over losing his father. They were close, more like friends than father and son. After his fathers death Paul became the man of the house. He had to take on more responsibilities and work harder to support his large family. After a while the stress was weighing him down and it was probably some sort relief when he went to fight the French. In 1756 he returned. On August 4, 1757 Paul Revere married Sara Orne, or a Revere referred to her "Sary". After some years of marriage Revere thinks it?s time for something new so he joins the masons, where he meets James Otis and Joseph Warren both men whom are of importance to him. In 1761 the year James Otis made his famous speech to Revere it would be know as the year that he fought his cousin Francis husband. The reasons why these two young men fought are not known but are probably logical considering that Revere was not the brawling type. All the while Revere is still making silver. Smallpox strikes the Reveres household as well as the rest of Boston. Paul Revere loved his children and couldn?t bear the fact of losing them. He called them his little lambs. Luckily none of them died nor did Sara. Pope day of this year, November 5 1764, got out of hand and riots were started. Many were killed and brutally maimed. Revere was outraged over this, but this was the last completely unrestrained old-fashioned pope day in Boston. Times were rough now for the Reveres, with five children to support Revere is forced to take up new traded to make ends meat. He joins the sundry clubs, revolutionary in character, tries his skills in engraving and dentistry, but still does best as a silversmith. On Friday, September 30. 1768 the ships of war were sent from England, they were anchored and harbored on all sides of the town. Fighting drove on and years later a bloody battle on king street lead to an engraving done by Revere that would be remembered forever. In April of 1770, Paul Revere decided it?s time for him and his family to move from Clark?s Wharf to North Square. A farm, soon the Revere family would acquire mare, sheep, and livestock. Life was good at their new establishment but now a terror crept up again. It was May 3,1773 when Sary died, Paul was heart broken. His true love gone ,and him left to raise eight children alone. She was buried in the Old Granary. As shocking as it is Revere marries quite quickly after the sudden death of Sary. On September 23, 1773, Revere marries Rachel Walker. In November of the same year Paul takes his first ride in pride of his country. Him and five others were chosen to ride to neighboring seaports to worn that they might try to unload at their wharves. Paul does attend the Boston Tea Party but then must ride to Philadelphia. When he returns home from Philadelphia he finds that Boston has went berserk. He continues making silver and engraving but is always ready to ride if ever he is needed. The present governor, Hutchinson, Reveres cousin, turns Boston over to General Gage and leaves for London , never to return again. British soldiers once more control the town but Revere carries word of their plans. As Robert Newman hangs the lanterns, and Revere crosses to Charleston. He carries the Alarum to Lexington. He British capture him. Revere is in quite a dilemma now. To his great luck thy let him free and he returns to John Hancock and Sam Adams. He saves Hancock?s trunk for him and goes into Cambridge. He risks a trip into Boston to make sure his family finally succeeds in getting a pass. By May of this year Revere has turned to printing money, engraving printing plates, and he designed the first official seal used for the colonies as well as the seal still used by Massachusetts today. During this same time one of Reveres friends from back in Boston was caught red Handed by George Washington holding criminal correspondence with the enemy, Dr.Church. By November of 1776 the Americans were in desperate need of Gunpowder so they turned to Paul Revere. Paul made powder in his mill until 1779 when it blew up. The British rule (Gage) and the Tories left Boston, Revere and his family return to North square. As a dentist it is Reveres duty to identify dead bodies, on of which is his friend from the masons, Joseph Warren. Later that year it is said that George Washington himself asked Revere to go out to Castle Island to fix the cannon. This was a great honor. But with honor comes sadness and on May 26th his mother passed at aged 73. Revere had suffered many losses including his wife and father but this one hurt the most. He had lived with his mother his whole life and really respected the idea of family. Revere worked more with the government and Castle Island. He soon packed up and head home once again. Hard times strike once again and Revere is once again drove to find more work. He tries commercial work but silver is still his main income. Revere fights to be court marshal, re-establishes his character, and writes endless letters to his cousins in France and Guernsey. Paul sets up a foundry and casts the first bell ever cast in Boston. Paul Revere now has lived over half his life and relaxes a bit. He gets involved in civic projects and the welfare of children, grandchildren and friends. He discovers the secret of rolling copper and establishes a great industry. Paul Revere dies May 10 1818.

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