HENRY, PATRICK

(1736-1799),Revolutionary leader and orator; 6. Hanwas of Scotch and Welsh descent, had little school education, married in penury at eighteen, failed in store-keeping and farming, and finally studied law, like his father, who was judge of the Hanover ‘court. He was admitted to the bar of his native county in 1760, and became] immediately succe ful, due to the revel a on his practice made of -his powers of oratory. His eloquence was effectively used in 1763 when he exploded with indignation in court in a speech challenging the right of George III. to annul the acts of the colonial legislatures. As a Taw rustic he became in 1765 a member sole and exclusive right to levy taxes. hereafter he projected as a leader of the volution ary cause against the exactions f the then misguided colonial policy of reat Britain. At the first colonial Cons that met in Philadelphia in 1774 © sounded the first note of the new Nationalism then in the throes of birth, ‘Urging that there should be no more designations of New England ers, New ut that all were Americans. ‘I am not _ 4 Virgin i an’, he said, ‘out an American’, The next year, before the second Revolutionary Congre , he made the speech 42 which he originated the famous decay & laration ‘Give me liberty: or give me death’, while advocating the moeing for immediate war against Great Britain of the Virginia militia, which he later commanded. He became Virginia’s first governor in 1776 and framed its first constitution, serving till 1779. He sat in the legislature from 1780 to 1784, and was again governor for the two years following. He was a bitter opponent of the Federal Constitution and vainly exercised his pa ionate oratory against its ratification. He charged that the power conferred upon the federal authority curtailed State rights, and succeeded in having amendments incorporated that represented a bill of rights for the States. His death cut short a renewed term of service in the Virginia eee to which he was re-elected