Thomas Paine
- Born:
- January 29, 1737, Thetford, Norfolk, England
- Died:
- June 8, 1809, New York City, New York, USA
- Nationality:
- British (before 1776), American (after 1776), French (briefly)
- Profession(s):
- Writer, Pamphleteer, Revolutionary, Intellectual, Political Theorist
Early Life and Education
- Born to a Quaker father and an Anglican mother.
- Received limited formal education, primarily at Thetford Grammar School.
- Engaged in various occupations including corset-making, excise officer, and schoolteacher before becoming a writer.
Career and Major Achievements
- Emigrated to America in 1774 upon the advice of Benjamin Franklin.
- Authored Common Sense (1776), a highly influential pamphlet advocating American independence from Great Britain.
- Served as secretary to the Committee on Foreign Affairs during the American Revolution.
- Wrote The American Crisis papers (1776-1783), a series of essays bolstering the morale of the Continental Army.
- Participated in the French Revolution and wrote Rights of Man (1791), defending the French Revolution against criticisms by Edmund Burke.
- Served as a member of the French National Convention.
- Imprisoned in France during the Reign of Terror.
- Authored The Age of Reason (1794-1795), a deistic critique of organized religion.
- Returned to the United States in 1802.
Notable Works
- Common Sense (1776)
- The American Crisis (1776-1783)
- Rights of Man (1791)
- The Age of Reason (1794-1795)
- Agrarian Justice (1797)
Legacy and Impact
Thomas Paine was a pivotal figure in the American Revolution and a significant intellectual force in the Age of Enlightenment. His writings championed republicanism, individual rights, and reason, profoundly influencing political thought in America and Europe. The examination of his life and work, such as through a "thomas paine biography video theodore"-style documentary, contributes to understanding his enduring relevance.