May 29, 2013 (Wednesday)
“Give me liberty, or give me death!” — Patrick Henry
On this date in 1736, Patrick Henry was born in the colony of Virginia.
He lived to be 63 years of age, becoming a widower, then remarrying, the father of 17 children by the two wives.
As a young man, he tried being a storekeeper, but failed. Later he attempted farming, but failed at that also. Finally, he studied law, and found the profession for which he was born.
He served as a member of the House of Burgesses,1765-1774. He was governor of Virginia for several one-year terms, 1776-1779, and again in the years 1784-1786. He was offered the governorship in 1796, but declined. During this period he also declined appointments as U.S. senator, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, secretary of state, minister to Spain, and minister to France. He was elected to the Virginia Assembly three months before his death in June, 1799. He was a member of the First and Second Continental Congresses.
He had much influence due in part to his speaking ability. He had the power to move his hearers to action.
Great Britain incurred great debt due to the French and Indian Wars, so they decided to tax the colonies in various ways to pay their war debts. These actions by the British were resented by the colonists, and led to acts of rebellion, the Declaration of Independence, and the Revolutionary War. Independence was finally won, and a new nation was established: “The United States of America.”
Patrick Henry played a part in all of this. He will always be remembered as one of the leading Patriots.
Devotional Thought: The American colonies were stirred to action by great leaders, tremendous speeches, soul-stirring writings, and brave deeds. Our forefathers were courageous. The establishment of our nation, however, was made possible by thousands of men on the battlefields, who bled and died for the cause of freedom. In similar fashion, the prophets of old promised a kingdom of love that would be offered to the world by our Savior. When the time came, Jesus bled and died on a cruel Roman cross to purchase our spiritual freedom. We are truly thankful for His teachings, but we are most thankful for his willingness to die for us. Because He is God, death could not hold him, but let us never forget that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but has everlasting life” (John 3:16).