Paul Revere and His Famous Ride
By Susan Steffen-Kraft
Although Paul Revere is known most for his ride that happened April 18, 1775, which was 240 years ago on this date April 18, 2015 and which I hope every year is remembered. He should also be known for other things. He worked as an amateur dentist and became the first to practice forensic dentistry by identifying a friend's body who died on Bunker Hill. He did so not knowing he would be the first to do this but because he recognized the wires he had put on the friend's false tooth. He was also a silversmith by trade which gained him access to a cross section of British Society which served him well when he became active in the American Revolution.
Before the American Revolution he was a member of the Sons of Liberty that opposed tax legislation such as the Stamp Act of 1765. This group also organized demonstrations against the British which I am sure were not appreciated and viewed with a jaundiced eye. Paul Revere served as a rider for the Committee of Correspondence. Between 1773 and 1775 he also relayed messages about British troop movements from Boston to Philadelphia, New York and Harford.
Before the American Revolution he was a member of the Sons of Liberty that opposed tax legislation such as the Stamp Act of 1765. This group also organized demonstrations against the British which I am sure were not appreciated and viewed with a jaundiced eye. Paul Revere served as a rider for the Committee of Correspondence. Between 1773 and 1775 he also relayed messages about British troop movements from Boston to Philadelphia, New York and Harford.
On the night this famous incident happened in history, Paul Revere was not alone in his mission to warn that the British were on their way. Two others joined him and their names were William Dawes and and Samuel Prescott. By the night's end fourty others had joined in riding to nameless glory to warn everyone across Boston's Middlesex County! In fact, the three riders had to split up because they were overtaken by the British. Revere was detained briefly by the British and Dawes lost his way after falling off his horse. This left Prescott to get to Concord and finish the job of warning people there.
Lest we forget the name of the borrowed mare, it was Brown Beauty. She was later confiscated by the British and unfortunately we shall never know what happened to that brave horse that Charlestown merchant John Larkin loaned to Revere for this famous of all rides.
Lest we forget the name of the borrowed mare, it was Brown Beauty. She was later confiscated by the British and unfortunately we shall never know what happened to that brave horse that Charlestown merchant John Larkin loaned to Revere for this famous of all rides.
Paul Revere never did say the words "The British are Coming" but said "The Regulars are Out!" The lantern signal was never for Paul Revere but for the citizens of Charlestown, to inform them that the British were on the move. Before he left that night he instructed the sexton of the Old North Church to put up the two lanterns as he now knew the British were coming by the sea route.
In case he and the other riders did not get through the good citizens of Charlestown were to inform the countryside; a good plan on his part because obviously he knew it was "better to be safe then sorry!"
Yes there are a few discrepancies in this famous poem but there is enough truth to make it a beloved part of the history of Paul Revere's ride.
His actions, along with those of Willam Dawes, Samuel Prescott and the other unnamed and unknown riders prevented the British from capturing John Hancock and Samuel Adams who were in Lexington and a big supply of the patriot's ammunition which they would need for the opening battles of the Revolutionary War. In fact, at 5:00 AM in the morning Revere himself helped Adams and Hancock escape and then went back to Buckbank's Tavern to get Mr. Hancock's trunk of papers. It was then he heard the first shot fired on Lexington Green.
In case he and the other riders did not get through the good citizens of Charlestown were to inform the countryside; a good plan on his part because obviously he knew it was "better to be safe then sorry!"
Yes there are a few discrepancies in this famous poem but there is enough truth to make it a beloved part of the history of Paul Revere's ride.
His actions, along with those of Willam Dawes, Samuel Prescott and the other unnamed and unknown riders prevented the British from capturing John Hancock and Samuel Adams who were in Lexington and a big supply of the patriot's ammunition which they would need for the opening battles of the Revolutionary War. In fact, at 5:00 AM in the morning Revere himself helped Adams and Hancock escape and then went back to Buckbank's Tavern to get Mr. Hancock's trunk of papers. It was then he heard the first shot fired on Lexington Green.
wikipedia.com, www.history.com/news/12 /things/you may /not /know /about/ Paul /Revere, www.infoplease.com, www.kidsandhistory.net, www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond-.com
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