"Give me liberty, or give me death!" Henry's first biographer, William Wirt of Maryland, was three years old in 1775. An assistant federal prosecutor in Aaron Burr's trial for treason at Richmond in 1807, and later attorney general of the United States, Wirt began to collect materials for the biography in 1808, nine years after Henry's death.
I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” Here is the full text of the speech that Patrick Henry gave on March 23, 1775 at St. John’s Church in Richmond: "No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House.
Patrick Henry’s “Liberty or Death” Speech. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were both in attendance, as were five of the six other Virginians who would later sign the Declaration of Independence. Prominent among the bewigged statesmen was Patrick Henry, a well-respected lawyer from Hanover County.
While some of the Convention’s delegates clung to their loyalist stance—one even called Henry’s words “infamously insolent”—the “Liberty or Death” speech tipped the scales in favor of defensive action.
Patrick HenryQuote by Patrick Henry: “I know not what course others may take; but as ...”
Patrick HenryPatrick Henry was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and the first governor of Virginia. He was a gifted orator and major figure in the American Revolution.
Patrick HenryThere is scholarly debate whether Henry ever uttered the famous quotation, "Give me liberty, or give me death!" Over forty years after Patrick Henry delivered his speech and eighteen years after his death, biographer William Wirt published a posthumous reconstruction of the speech in his 1817 work Sketches of the Life ...
Patrick HenryGive me liberty, or give me death! / AuthorPatrick Henry was an American attorney, planter, politician and orator known for declaring to the Second Virginia Convention: "Give me liberty, or give me death!" A Founding Father, he served as the first and sixth post-colonial Governor of Virginia, from 1776 to 1779 and from 1784 to 1786. Wikipedia
In saying, "Give me liberty or give me death," Patrick Henry is strongly expressing that he would rather die than live without liberty.
In this speech Patrick Henry (1736–1799) uses powerful rhetoric to convince influential, affluent, landed men of Virginia with much to lose to move past their current diplomatic posture opposing British aggression to the more treasonous one of open military preparedness.
But of the 1,217 words in the “Liberty or Death” speech, more than a thousand came from Wirt. He did the best he could to rely on firsthand sources and to construct, for posterity, the Revolution's most-galvanizing speech (which was never contemporaneously recorded in its entirety).
Dorothea Dandridgem. 1777–1799Sarah Shelton Henrym. 1754–1775Patrick Henry/Wife
Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death, Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775. No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House.
“Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty”—Henry burst from his imaginary chains and grasped an ivory letter opener—“or give me death!” As he uttered these final words, he plunged the letter opener toward his chest, mimicking a knife blow to the heart.
Henry is probably best known for his famous declaration, "give me liberty or give me death," made during a speech before the Virginia Convention in 1775. Henry was born in Hanover County, Virginia on May 29, 1736.
Founding Father: ‘Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death’. On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry stood in St. John’s Church in Richmond, Va., and argued at the Second Virginia Convention that his colony should arm its militia to fight a war of secession against the British.
Here is the full text of the speech that Patrick Henry gave on March 23, 1775 at St. John’s Church in Richmond: "No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just ...
For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery,” Patrick said in his March 23 speech, as reported 42 years later in William Wirt’s 1817 biography “Sketches of the Life and Character of Patrick Henry.”.
John’s Church in Richmond, Va., and argued at the Second Virginia Convention that his colony should arm its militia to fight a war of secession against the British.
Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election.
Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations ; and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election.
Listen. Richard Schumann interprets the character of Patrick Henry for The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Listen as he re-creates Patrick Henry's powerful words spoken March 23, 1775 at St. John's Henrico Parish Church in Richmond. Listen to the full speech (audio clip 7:05)
Evan Andrews. On the anniversary of Patrick Henry’s stirring words at the 1775 Virginia Convention, take a look back at the speech that included the famous line, “Give me liberty or give me death!”. Revolution was in the air in early 1775.
As he spoke, Henry held his wrists together as though they were manacled and raised them toward the heavens. “Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty”— Henry burst from his imaginary chains and grasped an ivory letter opener—“or give me death!”.
Patrick Henry’s “Liberty or Death” Speech. On the anniversary of Patrick Henry’s stirring words at the 1775 Virginia Convention, take a look back at the speech that included the famous line, “Give me liberty or give me death!”. On the anniversary of Patrick Henry’s stirring words at the 1775 Virginia Convention, ...
pinterest-pin-it. St. John’s Church in Richmond, where Henry gave his speech. (Credit: MyLoupe/UIG via Getty Images)) While some of the Convention’s delegates clung to their loyalist stance—one even called Henry’s words “infamously insolent”—the “Liberty or Death” speech tipped the scales in favor of defensive action.
Word that King George had rejected the Continental Congress’s petition for redress of grievances was yet to reach the colonies, and some still held out hope for a peaceful reconciliation with Britain. After several delegates had spoken on the issue, Patrick Henry rose from his seat in the third pew and took the floor.
After several delegates had spoken on the issue, Patrick Henry rose from his seat in the third pew and took the floor. A Baptist minister who was watching the proceedings would later describe him as having “an unearthly fire burning in his eye.”. Just what happened next has long been a subject of debate.