Thomas Paine was an influential writer, political theorist, and revolutionary whose works significantly impacted the Enlightenment and the American Revolution. Born on February 9, 1737, in Thetford, England, he was the son of a Quaker father and an Anglican mother. Paine's early life was marked by struggles, including several failed business ventures in England.
Paine's initial career was as a corset maker, following in his father's footsteps. However, his interest in politics and public affairs led him to write The Case of the Officers of Excise, which was published in 1772. His advocacy for better pay for excise officers did not bring immediate success, but it caught the attention of Benjamin Franklin, who recommended him to move to America in 1774.
Upon arriving in Philadelphia, Paine quickly immersed himself in the political atmosphere. His pamphlet Common Sense, published in January 1776, was a call for American independence from British rule. It sold over 100,000 copies within three months and became one of the most influential works of the Revolution, convincing many colonists of the need for independence. Paine's arguments were clear, forceful, and grounded in Enlightenment ideals, making the case for democracy over monarchy.
After the American Revolution, Paine traveled to France and was involved in the French Revolution, serving as a representative in the French National Convention. His radical views on religion and politics made him a controversial figure, leading to his imprisonment in France and eventual return to America, where he was initially shunned for his anti-religious sentiments. Paine died in obscurity in New York City on June 8, 1809, but his writings have left a lasting legacy: