Paul Revere: Boston's Revolutionary Propagandist

Paul Revere's midnight ride is legendary, but his real weapon wasn't a horse—it was his silversmith's tools. Through powerful engravings and propaganda, Revere turned British atrocities into rallying cries that united the colonies.Born in 1735 in Boston, Revere apprenticed under his French immigrant father as a silversmith. When the Stamp Act ignited colonial resistance in 1765, Revere joined the Sons of Liberty and discovered his true calling: creating visual propaganda that spread revolutionary fervor across America. His craftsmanship became a tool of rebellion.His famous engraving of the Boston Massacre became one of history's most powerful pieces of political art, depicting British soldiers as ruthless aggressors firing on unarmed colonists. From 1773 to 1775, Revere rode between Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, spreading news and coordinating resistance. His April 1775 midnight ride warned colonists of British troop movements, sparking the battles of Lexington and Concord that launched the American Revolution. After the war, Revere became an industrial pioneer, opening North America's first copper-rolling mill in 1801.Subscribe to Hometown History for forgotten American history stories every week. New episodes release Tuesdays. Every hometown has a story—what's yours?In This Episode:How a French immigrant's son became one of America's most famous patriotsPaul Revere's transformation from master silversmith to revolutionary propagandistThe Boston Massacre engraving that turned public opinion against the BritishThe truth behind the midnight ride that sparked the American RevolutionRevere's post-war career as an industrial pioneer and copper mill founderHow Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1860 poem immortalized Revere's legacyKey Figures:Paul Revere (1735-1818) - Boston silversmith, engraver, Sons of Liberty member, and Revolutionary messengerApollos Rivoire (Paul Revere Sr.) - French immigrant silversmith who trained his son in the craftSamuel Adams - Leader of the Sons of Liberty who recognized propaganda's powerGeneral Joseph Warren - Revolutionary leader and Revere's close friend, killed at Battle of Bunker HillWilliam Dawes - Rode alongside Revere on the famous midnight rideJohn Adams & John Hancock - Revolutionary leaders Revere met through Sons of LibertyHenry Wadsworth Longfellow - Poet whose 1860 work "Paul Revere's Ride" restored Revere's fameTimeline:January 1, 1735: Paul Revere born in Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony1748 (age 13): Leaves school to apprentice under father as silversmith1754: Father Apollos dies; Paul takes over family silver business1756-1757: Serves in French and Indian War as Second Lieutenant1765: Stamp Act passed; Revere joins Sons of Liberty resistance movementMarch 5, 1770: Boston Massacre; Revere creates iconic propaganda engraving1773-1775: Rides between Boston, New York, Philadelphia spreading revolutionary intelligenceApril 18, 1775: Midnight ride warns colonists of British troop movementsApril 19, 1775: Battles of Lexington and Concord begin American RevolutionJune 17, 1775: Battle of Bunker Hill; General Warren killed1783: American Revolution ends; Revere returns to industrial pursuits1801: Opens North America's first copper-rolling millMay 10, 1818: Dies at age 83; buried in Granary B