HENRY, PATRICK (ante), 1736-99; was a native of Virginia, and the son of a Scotch emigrant. He was so little promising- a scholar, that his father was ready to give up his education in despair, but when he was 14 years old he was so impressed with the fervid eloquence of Samuel Davis, a celebrated Presbyterian preacher, that the fire of oratory kindled in his heart. In his business life Patrick was careless and even shiftless, and seldom successful in his undertakings. He was slovenly in dress, and showed no aptitude for business of any kind, Scraping a violin, torturing a flute, fol lowing the hounds and relating anecdotes, constituted his ambition. At the time that he married the daughter of a farmer, a Miss Shelton, his business collapsed and he became wretchedly poor. He next tried farming, but had neither the perseverance nor the knowledge that insure success, and after one more of many failures he opened a store, and succeeded in failing sooner than in his earlier ventures. When no custom ers appeared lie would close his store and go fishing. But in his more sensible intervals lie studied such books as he could find, and managed to gain a fair idea of the Latin and Greek authors. Having utterly failed in farming and in trade, he made an attempt at the law, and after only a 'month and a half's study, had the boldness to ask for license to practice. This was granted on the condition that he should extend his studies before undertaking to practice. Practice was not easy to obtain, and the necessities of his family increased. In fact they were supported by his wife's father, who kept a small tavern at Hanover Court-House, Patrick now and then assisting in the duties of the house. But suddenly (in 1763) one of those strokes of fortune that develop intel lectual giants overtook him, and he was engaged in the place of a more experienced advocate who refused to undertake the defense in a case, now forgotten, but long known as the "cause of the parsons," of which the main points were as follows: In those days in Virginia the priests or clergy were paid to a great extent in produce, and among their annual receipts were entitled to 16,000 lbs. of tobacco. In 1755 a severe drought Occurred, which, following the French-Indian war, greatly reduced the means of the people. On this account the colonial legislature provided that all debts due in tobacco might be paid in money at 16s. 8d. (English money) per 100 pounds. This reduced the income of the ministers about two thirds. A similar law passed in 1758 gave rise to a bitter controversy between the planters and the ministers. The clergy appealed to the king, and the oppressive act was declared void. This brought down upon the clergy almost universal denunciation, the more so because in many inshwices they had sued for the losses suffered under the illegal act. A test case was heard in Hanover county, and the court decided in favor of the ministers. The trial was crowded, more than 20 of the clergy being on the bench, Patrick's father acting as pre siding justice, while a distinguished lawyer stated the case for the plaintiffs. Patrick, upon rising to speak for the other side, commenced a. rambling and uninteresting address. The clergy smiled in anticipative triumph, but suddenly his diffidence passed away, a strange change came over him; as a contemporary says, "a mysterious and almost supernatural transformation of appearance:" his form expanded, and the force of his speech "made their blood run cold and their hair rise on end." The ministers left their bench under his withering invective; the jury without hesitation gave a nomi nal verdict of one penny damages. The excitement was so intense that the audience seized time young orator and bore him in triumph on their shoulders, and thus, at one bound, Patrick Henry rose to tile front rank of American orators, There was no lack of clients thereafter, and his prosperity was assured. But he was not satisfied with his legal profession. In 1765 lie became a member of the house of burgesses. At the criti cal period of the stamp net debate, Henry was comparatively unknown to the assembly, and the rich planters were scandalized at his presumption in offering to address the house upon so important a subject. Henry hastily wrote brief resolutions which set forth that tile burgesses and the governor had the exclusive right, and power to lay taxes and imposts upon the people of this colony, and that not alone the stamp act, but all acts of parliament affecting the rights of the colonies were unconstitutional and there fore void. A storm of opposition followed; the resolutions were denounced as extreme, impolitic, and dangerous. Henry writes: "Many threats were uttered, and much abuse was cast on rue by those who wished submission." Thomas Jefferson attested that " the debate was most bloody." But henry would not yield. In the debate he startled even the patriots by exelahning: " Cresar had his Brutus, Charles the first his Crom well, and George the third"—here he was interrupted by the presiding °dicer and mem bers with cries of "Treason! treason!"—" may profit by their example," calmly said the orator, completing the sentence, adding, "If this be treason, make the most of it."
The resolutions were adopted by a majority of one. lie was now a power in the colony, and replaced the vacillating planters in the leadership.. Ile became the author ized representative of the people against the aristocracy. He rose to higher public duties when the stamp act was repealed, other burdens were laid upon the colonies in the form of duties upon tea and other necessary articles. The opposition to such imposts shown by Henry, Jefferson, and the Lees, brought about the dissolution of the house of burgesses by lord Botetourt, the royal governor. Henry was the leader in preparing the articles of an association to discourage the use of British merchandise. lie continued his legal business, and, though wanting in legal education, was wonder fully successful before juries. With Jefferson and others he was ready to precipitate an open rupture with England. In 1773, Henry, Jefferson, Dabney Carr, and the two Lees, originated the committee of correspondence, whose duty it was to spread intelli gence among the colonies. Dunmore was then governor, and he at once dissolved the burgesses, who were at once re-elected by the people, and early in 1774 they met again. In Boston the tea had been thrown into the sea, and a collision was to be expected at any moment. The burgesses appointed a day of fasting and prayer, and for this Dun more again dissolVed the body. Then the burgesses convoked an assembly to be chosen by the people, to meet at Williamsburg, Aug. 1, 1774. That body adopted a Don importation agreement, and appointed delegates to a congress to meet at Philadelphia. Henry was one of the delegates, and in that famous assembly he was bailed as the champion of constitutional liberty, and his wonderful eloquence was at once recog nized. The main result of the congress was to send a petition to the king, and an address to the people of the mother country. In Mar., 1775, a convention met at Rich mond, of which henry was the moving spirit. His resolutions to organize the militia and put the colony in an attitude of defense met with great opposition. He replied in a burning speech in which occur the memorable words: "There is no retreat but in submission and slavery. Our chains are forged. Their clanking may be heard in the plains of Boston. The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring the clash of resounding arms. I know not what course others may take, but, as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" Without an opposing voice the resolutions were adopted, and very soon afterwards came the news of the battle at Lexington and Concord. Virginia was ripe for revolt. Dunmore knew this, and privately took away all the powder in the colony. The people took imp arms; they were told that the powder would be returned, and 700 men at once disbanded. Henry seized the favorable Moment, gath ered a force of militia, and marched upon Williamsburg to arrest the royal reeeiver-ge» eral. An agent of,Dumnore's met him, and paid him £330 for the powder. Henry was denounced for stirring up sedition, but it was too late to talk of loyalty; the prov ince was aroused, and in June Dunmore took refuge on a man-of-war. A convention assembled at Richmond and appointed a committee of public safety with most extensive powers. Two regiments were raised, and Henry was appointed commander of all the forces to he raised. The first collision was at Great Bridge. where the Virginia militia gained a triumph over drilled British troops, and drove Dunmore back to his ship. Henry should naturally have been the leader of the troops, but the active command was given to col. William Woodford. Henry was disappointed, and resigned. In the convention of May,. 1776, when the delegates to the Philadelphia congress were instructed to demand the independence of the colonies, he took an active part. In that year he was chosen governor of Virginia, and was re-elected until 1779, when he was not legally eligible. Ile returned to the legislature in which he served through the war, and was then once more chosen governor, serving until 1786, when he finally resigned. In 1788 he was a member of the convention to ratify the federal constitution, which he vigorously opposed, chiefly on the ground that it would tend to supersede state rights. In 1795 Washington offered him the position of secretary of state, but he declined. Ile also declined Adams's offer of the French mission, and a nomination as governor in 1790. He was elected to the state senato in 1799, but did not live to take his seat, dying June 6 of that year.