Paul Revere would become one of the most popular figures during the early years of the Revolutionary War. His ride would become infamous due to a poem that was written about him after his death, but he was a well-known and well-connected man within his community.
Also Read: Important People in the American Revolution
The timeline of his life covers his birth, marriages, the birth of his many children and their deaths, and his contributions to the American cause and early American economy.
What is often forgotten about Revere was that he was a famous entrepreneur of his day and was successful in his many business ventures.
He was a man of many talents, but the talent that earned him the most money was his work as a silversmith and, later, his copper business.
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Paul Revere Timeline
1734:
He was born in December 1734 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the third of twelve children, but he eventually became the eldest surviving son. His father, Apollos Rivoire, was a French immigrant who had become a successful silversmith.
1746:
Paul followed in his father's footsteps and became a silversmith himself. He was also a patriot during the American Revolution, and he is best known for his famous midnight ride to warn the colonists of the British attack on Lexington and Concord. He was only 12 years of age.
1754:
At the age of 20, Revere endured his father's death. He would take over his father's silversmith business after being an apprentice for about 4 years.
His father's death occurs towards the beginning of the French and Indian War. The colonists would join the British and fight against the French and their native allies.
1756:
Governor Shirley of Massachusetts Bay Colony appointed him as a second lieutenant in Gridley's artillery regiment. This would be the first military action of young Revere's life, and it would be in the service of the British Army. A few months later, he would participate in the Crown Point Expedition in New York Colony.
The expedition was not successful, and he returned to Boston later that year.
1757:
Paul Revere marries his first wife, Sarah Orne.
1758:
He and his wife have their first child. A daughter named Deborah.
1760:
The couple gives birth to Paul Revere Jr., their first son.
Later that year, Revere joined the local Masonic Lodge. This would be one of his early connections throughout the community. He would eventually become well-connected through various groups and the Masonic Lodge.
1763:
He and his wife have their third child, Sarah Revere.
1764:
Their fourth child was born, Mary Revere. Unfortunately, she would die within a year.
1766:
Without much of a break, Sarah Revere has her fifth child. Frances Revere was born.
1770:
Paul Revere and his wife possibly had a set of twins. Elizabeth and Mary Revere were born in 1770. He also purchased the house that will become a tourist attraction in Boston known as the Paul Revere House.
The Boston Massacre occurred this year, and Paul Revere played a role when he re-illustrated a popular picture of the Boston Massacre. He includes Crispus Attucks in those killed. His illustration becomes so popular that he is given credit for creating the original.
Also Read: 12 Facts About the Boston Massacre
It would be during this time that he became more involved in the Patriot movement, which would eventually lead to him joining the Sons of Liberty.
1772:
He and his wife have another daughter and name her Isanna Revere. She would only live for 9 months.
1773:
His beloved wife passed away at the age of 37. Revere remarried Rachel Walker later that year. She would be the last wife of Revere. Their marriage took place 4 days after the death of Isanna.
The colonists rebelled against the Tea Act, and Paul Revere joined them in their destruction of English Tea in the Boston Harbor, which became known as the Boston Tea Party.
1774:
Revere would continue becoming connected with the patriot cause and joined the spy ring known as "the Mechanics." Later that year, the Powder Alarm occurred, which caused the colonists, including Revere, to expose their sophisticated alarm system to the British. Despite this showing, the British did not realize its sophistication.
Paul and Rachel have their first child, Joshua Revere.
1775:
The British try to march on Concord to confiscate gunpowder, but Joseph Warren learns of their plans and recruits Paul Revere and William Dawes. Revere alerts many minutemen until his capture shortly before Concord. It became known as his famous Midnight Ride, and many myths became associated with it.
Also Read: Facts About The Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Battle of Bunker Hill takes place, and Joseph Warren is killed and his body mangled beyond recognition. Later, when the body is removed from the mass grave, Paul Revere will identify his body due to the false tooth he made him.
1776:
He received two military commissions throughout the year. He was commissioned as Lieutenant Colonel of Artillery and Major of Infantry.
he and his second wife have their second son, John Revere. He died two weeks after birth.
1777:
Paul and Rachel Revere have a third son, who is given the name Joseph Warren Revere.
Later that year, he took control of British troops captured at the Battle of Bennington.
His mother passes away.
1778:
Paul Revere is sent to aid General Sullivan in the recapture of Newport, Rhode Island. Unfortunately, this attempt failed, and he returned to Boston.
1779:
After everything he had contributed during the early portion of the Revolutionary War, Revere disobeys orders during the Penobscot Expedition, which leads to him being put on house arrest for three days. This would be his last action during the Revolutionary War.
With Paul Revere returning home, he and his wife can continue to build their family.
1780:
The couple has their first daughter together, but she dies shortly after her birth.
1781:
Deborah Revere (eldest daughter of Paul Revere) marries Amos Lincoln.
America won the Battle of Yorktown, which led to their independence. Revere is still waiting for his court-martial.
1782:
He and his wife have another daughter, Harriet Revere.
He was finally acquitted of all charges during his court-martial case.
1783:
America achieved its independence with the Treaty of Paris.
Paul Revere and his wife have another son, John Revere.
1785:
Maria Revere was born to Paul and his wife.
1786:
Tragically, John Revere died at the age of 3.
1787:
Paul and Rebekah have another son and name him John in honor of the two that have passed before him.
1789:
George Washington won the first election of the United States. Washington did not endorse a political party, but eventually, the country would be divided into two parties: The Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans. Revere, like many New Englanders, would identify as a Federalist.
1791:
Sarah Bradford, the third child of Paul and Sarah Revere, died at the age of 29.
During this decade, Paul Revere semi-industrialized his business and became a wealthy man.
1797:
Deborah Lincoln passed away at the age of 39 with two children. Her younger sister, Elizabeth, marries her widowed husband.
Later that year, Paul Revere was appointed Commander of Fort Independence. He was 64 years of age.
1799:
His daughter Francis died in 1799. It would be the same year of George Washington's death.
1800:
Thomas Jefferson won the election of 1800. This would mark the first time in American History that power transitioned from one political party to another. Paul Revere voted for fellow Bostonian John Adams.
1801:
Paul Revere opened the first copper rolling mill in America. The copper business is still in business today.[
Paul and Rachel Revere lose their first adult child when Joshua Revere dies.
His last sibling, Mary Baker, dies.
1804:
Deborah Sampson was a woman who disguised herself as a man in order to fight during the Revolutionary War. Revere wrote to U.S. Representative William Eustis of Massachusetts on Sampson's behalf. A military pension had never been requested for a woman, but Revere wrote: "I have been induced to enquire her situation and character since she quit the male habit, and soldiers uniform; for the more decent apparel of her own gender... humanity and justice obliges me to say, that every person with whom I have conversed about her, and it is not a few, speak of her as a woman with handsome talents, good morals, a dutiful wife, and an affectionate parent." On March 11, 1805, Congress approved the request and placed Sampson on the Massachusetts Invalid Pension Roll at the rate of four dollars a month.
1805:
Elizabeth Lincoln died at the age of 35. She was the second of Revere's daughters to marry Amos Lincoln. The couple had one child prior to her death.
1808:
Revere and his son requested protection from protective tariffs for his Copper business. Revere, like many New Englanders, had been hurt by Thomas Jefferson's embargo.
1811:
He retires and leaves his copper business to Joseph Warren Revere and his other sons and grandsons.
1812:
The War of 1812 began. Paul Revere lived long enough to witness two wars fought against the British.
1813:
His firstborn son, Paul Revere Jr., died at the age of 53. He had seven children. Shortly after the death of his firstborn, he lost his second wife, Rachel, at the age of 68.
1814:
As he nears the age of 80, he volunteers to help build Fort Strong on Noddle's Island toward the end of the War of 1812.
1818:
On May 10, 1818, Paul Revere died at the age of 83. He would be one of the last men of the Revolutionary generation to die. John Hancock and Samuel Adams, whom he had warned during his famous ride, had already passed away.
Paul Revere would grow in popularity after his death.