Key Facts At A Glance
Quick, sourced details that define who Paul Revere was and why he matters.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Paul Revere | Primary records |
| Birth | January 1, 1735 (Old Style), Boston, Massachusetts | Church/baptismal record |
| Midnight Ride | April 18–19, 1775, to warn Concord militia | Participant accounts, later affidavits |
| Engraving | 1770 engraving of the Boston Massacre and 1768 engraving of the Stamp Act Congress | Library of Congress/BMH |
| Death | May 10, 1818, Boston, age 83 | Newspaper obituary |
Who Was Paul Revere
Paul Revere (1735–1818) was a Boston silversmith, engraver, early industrialist, and civic organizer, best known for his midnight ride on April 18–19, 1775, to warn militia leaders that British regulars were moving to seize military supplies in Concord. Revere was also an engraver whose political prints helped shape public opinion in the 1760s and 1770s, and a successful metalworker who expanded into ironworks, brass foundry, and other ventures in post-Revolutionary Boston. His balanced profile combines artisan skill, commercial enterprise, revolutionary civic action, and community leadership, making him a durable symbol of practical patriotism in the founding era.
Background And Early Life
Born January 1, 1735, in Boston’s North End, Paul Revere was the son of a French-born silversmith, Apollos Rivoire, and Deborah Hitchborn Revere. He attended Boston Latin School and trained in his father’s craft, inheriting the shop in the early 1760s. Engraving skills honed through political cartoons and currency printing gave him influence as a communicator. Civic involvement began early with membership in the Sons of Liberty, local fire and militia companies, and participation in Boston’s network of committees that coordinated resistance to British policy in the 1760s and early 1770s.
The Midnight Ride Of April 1775
On the night of April 18, 1775, Revere and others—including William Dawes and, per some accounts, Samuel Prescott—rode from Boston to Lexington and Concord to warn militia leaders that British troops were marching. Captured briefly by a British patrol, Revere was released without his horse and returned home; Dawes also faced delays. This ride became iconic because it alerted local leaders to the British advance, contributing directly to the muster of militia on the Lexington and Concord green. The event was later memorialized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 1861 poem, which emphasized Revere’s role while simplifying details of that night.
Work As An Engraver And Civic Printer
As an engraver, Revere produced political prints, currency, bookplates, and shop signs, employing a growing workshop that included copperplate engraving and printing. His high-information-gain work helped circulate visual arguments for colonial rights before the Revolution and documented key moments such as the Boston Massacre. After independence, he expanded into bell founding, copper rolling, and hardware, running one of the early industrial enterprises in the United States. These activities underscore a career built not only on daring rides but on sustained artisanal and commercial contribution to Boston’s economy and public life.
Verified Biographical Facts
The following table summarizes key, source-backed facts about Paul Revere’s life and work.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Paul Revere | Birth/baptism record, parish register |
| Date of Birth | January 1, 1735 (Old Style) | Church record |
| Place of Birth | North End, Boston, Massachusetts Bay | Local records |
| Occupation | Silversmith, engraver, metal manufacturer | Business directories, tax records |
| Notable Work | Engraving for Boston Massacre print (1770) | Library of Congress/BMH |
| Midnight Ride | April 18–19, 1775, to warn Concord militia | Participant depositions, later affidavits |
| Family | Father Apollos Rivoire, mother Deborah Hitchborn; 13 children | Vital records |
| Death | May 10, 1818, Boston | Newspaper obituary |
Legacy And Historical Memory
Revere’s legacy grew in the decades after his death, shaped by Longfellow’s poem, civic commemorations, and the preservation of his shop and engravings in museums. Historians emphasize both the ride’s practical impact and the broader network of communication and organizing that made such warnings possible. Revere’s career as an artisan and entrepreneur complicates any single-motive narrative, highlighting instead a man whose work in metal, print, and community institutions mattered as much as any single ride. His story endures because it reflects the interwoven strands of craft, commerce, and civic responsibility in Revolutionary-era America.
Common Misconceptions And Clarifications
Revere did not shout the phrase “The British are coming” in a lone midnight sprint; he was part of a concerted effort, was captured, and the alert extended beyond one rider. He was not solely a one-night hero but a decades-long participant in civic and commercial life. Understanding these distinctions helps separate durable historical facts from later mythmaking, ensuring that his documented roles as craftsman, citizen, and communicator are recognized alongside his famous ride.
In Summary
Facts about Paul Revere that hold up over time include his birth in 1735 Boston, his trade as a silversmith and engraver, his role in the 1775 midnight ride, his wide-ranging industrial work after independence, and his death in 1818. Reliable records—church registers, depositions, business ledgers, and newspapers—support these details. By focusing on verified accomplishments and context, we keep the history useful and understandable for readers who want more than slogans or simplified stories.