PAUL REVERE
Silversmith and Patriot
Paul Revere was born in December 1734 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the son of a French Huguenot, Apollos Rivoire, who was a silversmith by trade. When Revere’s father died in 1754, the silver trade went to him, the eldest son. Revere’s mother, Deborah, probably ran the business, while Paul and one of his younger brothers did the silver work.
Revere fought briefly as a second lieutenant in an artillery regiment during the Seven Years War, which involved several countries and ultimately resulted in the loss of France’s power in North America. When he left the army, he returned to Boston and took over the silver shop in his own name.
The quality of Revere's silver work quickly gained attention in Boston. At the same time, he was getting to know many patriots who were agitating against domination of the American colonies by the British crown. One of these was Dr. Joseph Warren, who died a hero at Bunker Hill, an early and important battle of the American Revolution. During the 1760s, Revere became increasingly involved in the actions of the Sons of Liberty, a organization of patriots opposed to Britain’s authority.
After the Boston Tea Party in 1773 (which Revere probably participated in), he began work as a messenger for the Boston Committee of Public Safety, often riding to New York and Philadelphia with messages about political unrest in the city. In 1774, Britain closed the port of Boston. With revolution in the air, and Revere increased his activities with Sons of Liberty.
Today Revere is most remembered for his “Midnight Ride” prior to the first two battles of the American Revolution at Lexington and Concord. On the night of April 18, 1775, he and William Dawes rode from Boston to Lexington to warn the colonial minutemen about the movement of the British army toward Lexington. The army’s intent was to arrest two patriots, John Hancock and Samuel Adams, and seize the weapons stores in Concord.
After the war, Revere started working with other metals besides gold and silver. The iron and brass foundry he opened in Boston's North End in 1801 cast the city’s first bell. Revere also introduced the production of copper plating to America and opened North America's first copper mill, south of Boston. He died on May 10, 1818, at the age of 83, at his home on Charter Street in Boston.
Timeline 
Paul Revere DVD
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