Richmond, Va

Contributed by WR Murphy

Patrick Henry was born on May 29, 1736. He would serve as both the first and sixth governor of Virginia, and be remembered as one of the strongest and most radical voices in the American Revolution.

While serving in the House of Burgesses, part of Virginia's colonial government, in 1765, Patrick Henry introduced the Virginia Resolves, and passed the measure while many of the older members of the body were away. The Resolves were probably the most strongly anti-British measure passed in Virginia before the Revolution, was written in response to the famous Stamp Act, and sought to guarantee for Virginians the rights of British citizens. This legislation set the tone for Henry's whole career, and helped pave the way for revolution.

In his most famous speech, ending with the words "give me liberty, or give me death," Patrick Henry successfully convinced the Virginia Assembly to mobilize its forces against the invading British army. During the war, he was elected to serve as Virginia's governor. He is also famous for opposing the United States Constitution, worrying that a federal government would be too central and would trample on the rights of individual states. Henry died, probably from cancer of the stomach, on June 6, 1799.

Follow in the footsteps of Patrick Henry with the Road to Revolution Heritage Trail. The Road to Revolution is Virginia's first trail focusing exclusively on the American Revolution and Patrick Henry's life.  This educational and historical adventure brings one of Colonial America's greatest patriots into focus and commemorates the American Revolution. Wind your way throughout Richmond and the other sites that helped shape Patrick Henry.

Here are the sites included in the Road to Revolution Heritage Trail:

St. John's Church - site of the "give me liberty or give me death" oration;
Hanover Courthouse - the place where Henry launched his public career
Hanover Tavern - where Henry lived and studied law;
Scotchtown - one of Henry's homes;
Red Hill - Patrick Henry's last home and burial place;
Polegreen Church - Henry's boyhood church;
Studley -Henry's birthplace;
Rural Plains - where Henry married Sarah Shelton in 1754.
Pine Slash - a 300-acre tobacco farm dowried to Henry;
Hampden-Sydney College - a college he helped found;

This is a fun experience you can share with your family and friends; a great thing to do over a weekend. As a student of history, I love this stuff. But you don't have to be a history major to enjoy this. You can enjoy the Road to Revolution at your leisure and learn about Patrick Henry's life and his role in the American Revolution.

For more information, click here.

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Patrick Henry: The Man, the Movement and the Road to Revolution

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