Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine (d. 1809) is an Anglo-American political activist, philosopher, and writer whose influential pamphlets galvanized the American Revolution and shaped modern democratic thought. Born in England in 1737, he migrated to the American colonies in 1774 with the assistance of Benjamin Franklin, quickly immersing himself in the burgeoning revolutionary movement.

His 1776 publication of the pamphlet Common Sense provided a passionate and accessible argument for American independence from Great Britain, shifting public opinion and inspiring colonial leaders. Following the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, he served as a volunteer aide-de-camp and penned The American Crisis series to boost troop morale during difficult phases of the military campaign.

Later returning to Europe, he actively participated in the early stages of the French Revolution, publishing Rights of Man in 1791 to defend the revolution and advocate for republican governance. He continued his philosophical writings with Age of Reason, published in three parts between 1794 and 1807, which promoted deism and critiqued institutionalized religion. Throughout his eventful life, his uncompromising advocacy for liberty, human rights, and social reform earned him both fervent admiration and severe political controversy on both sides of the Atlantic.

Essential Reading

• Common Sense (1776): This passionate pamphlet crystallized the argument for American independence and became one of the most widely read works in the colonies.
• The Writings of Thomas Paine - Volume 2 (1779-1792) (1908): This curated collection gathers his essential political essays and correspondence from a pivotal era of revolutionary transformation in America and Europe.
• Rights of Man (1791): This foundational political treatise defends the French Revolution and outlines the core principles of democratic government and universal human rights.