Born in Hanover County, Virginia, on May 29, 1736, Patrick Henry had a brief formal education. He was not successful as a businessman, but became prominent as a lawyer. Virginia sent him as a delegate to the First Continental Congress. His most famous phrase was uttered at the Virginia Provincial Convention in 1775. He was also a member of the Second Continental Congress for a brief time. He was the first governor of Virginia under its new constitution. During the American Revolution, Patrick worked to fulfill Virginia's obligations for raising troops and supplies.
Public service left Henry in debt, but after returning to the practice of law, he earned enough money to retire in 1794 to his estate near Appamattox VA. He died in 1799.
