Patrick Henry

1736-05-29 – 1799-06-06

Fiery orator whose "Give me liberty, or give me death!" rallied support for independence.

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Patrick Henry was one of the most passionate voices for American independence. As a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and later governor of Virginia, he used his extraordinary oratory skills to push reluctant colonists toward revolution. His famous speech in March 1775, ending with "Give me liberty, or give me death!" became a rallying cry for the Patriot cause. Henry later opposed the Constitution because it lacked a Bill of Rights, making him an influential Anti-Federalist whose advocacy helped ensure those first ten amendments were added.