Patrick Henry

Ancestor Number

A053828 »

Date of Birth

May 29, 1736

Place of Birth

Hanover County, Virginia

Date of Death

June 6, 1799

Place of Death

Charlotte County, Virginia

Spouse(s)

Sarah Shelton, Dorothea Spottswood Dandridge,

Children

Jane Robertson Henry, Fayette Henry, Patrick Henry Jr., Dorothea Spotswood Henry, Nathaniel Henry, Martha Catherine Henry, Sarah Butler Henry, Edward Winston Henry, Richard Henry, Anne Henry, Edward Henry, William Henry, Martha Henry, John Henry, Elizabeth Henry, Alexander Spotswood Henry

American Revolution Service

Governor of Virginia; Continental Congress Member; Member of Convention; Member of House of Delegates

State of Service

Virginia

Donor

Pamela Wright, First Vice President General, NSDAR & Honorary State Regent of Texas

Patrick Henry, American hero of the Revolutionary War of 1775–1783, passionately delivered the patriotic and emotional “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech.

He addressed Virginia delegates attending the second Virginia Revolutionary Convention, held at St. John’s Church, in Richmond, Virginia. Henry was an ardent supporter of gaining freedom for Virginia’s colonists from the ruler King George III of Great Britain. In response to the growing threats of rebellion by the 13 colonies, Henry urged the delegates to establish a Virginia militia.

On March 23, 1775, toward the end of his famous speech, Henry dramatically cried out, “Give me liberty or give me death!”

Then, seemingly holding a dagger in his upraised hand, he plunged it downward into his heart and slumped forward. The delegates were “spellbound.” This dramatic and compelling speech was credited with gaining sufficient votes to establish a Virginia militia. Less than a month later, the first shots of the revolution were fired on April 19, 1775, bringing Virginia into the war. The American Revolution would last eight years, 1775–1783. The colonies would emerge as the free and independent United States of America.