Paul Revere was a patriot and silversmith from Boston, Massachusetts. Revere is most known for his famous Midnight Ride of Paul Revere during which he warned minutemen in the countryside near Boston of approaching British forces during the American Revolution.
The following is a timeline of Paul Revere’s life:
1734:
♦ Paul Revere is born in late December in the North End of Boston.
1746:
♦ At the age of 12, Paul Revere leaves school to become a silversmith apprentice.
1754:
♦ Paul Revere’s father, Apollos Rivoire, dies. Revere takes over his father’s silversmith shop and becomes responsible for his large family.
1756:
♦ On February 18, 1756, Governor Shirley appoints Paul Revere second lieutenant in Gridley’s artillery regiment while fighting in the French and Indian War.
♦ In May of 1756, Paul Revere takes part in the Crown Point Expedition in New York State. The expedition is a failure and Revere returns to civilian life in Boston that fall.
1757:
♦ On August 4, Paul Revere marries Sarah Orne.
1758:
♦ On April 8, Paul Revere and Sarah Orne’s daughter, Deborah Revere, is born.
1760:
♦ On January 6, Paul Revere and Sarah Orne’s son, Paul Revere, is born.
♦ In September, Paul Revere joins the Masonic Lodge of St. Andrew.
1762:
♦ On January 3, Paul Revere and Sarah Orne’s daughter, Sarah Revere, is born.
1764:
♦ On March 31, Paul Revere and Sarah Orne’s daughter, Mary Revere, is born.
1765:
♦ On April 30, Paul Revere and Sarah Orne’s daugher, Mary Revere, dies at one years old.
1766:
♦ On February 19, Paul Revere and Sarah Orne’s daughter, Frances Revere, is born.
1768:
♦ On March 19, Paul Revere and Sarah Orne’s daughter, Mary Revere, is born.
1770:
♦ Paul Revere purchases a house in the North End of Boston, now known as the Paul Revere House.
♦ On December 5, Paul Revere and Sarah Orne’s daughter, Elizabeth Revere, is born.
1772:
♦ On December 15, Paul Revere and Sarah Orne’s daughter, Isannah Revere, is born.
1773:
♦ Paul Revere joins the Sons of Liberty, a group of political protestors who organize protests against the Stamp Act.
♦ On May 3, Paul Revere’s wife, Sarah Orne, dies at the age of 37.
♦ On September 19, Paul Revere and Sarah Orne’s daughter, Isannah Revere, dies at nine months old.
♦ On September 23, Paul Revere marries Rachel Walker.
♦ On December 16, 1773, Paul Revere takes part in the Boston Tea Party.
1774:
♦ In the fall, Paul Revere joins a spy ring known as “The Mechanics.”
♦ On December 7, Paul Revere and Rachel Walker’s son, Joshua Revere, is born in Boston.
1775:
♦ On April 18/19, Paul Revere takes his famous midnight ride to warn minutemen in the countryside that British troops were approaching in search of the colonist’s ammunition supplies
1776:
♦ In November, Paul Revere was is commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of Artillery and is stationed at Castle Island in Boston Harbor.
♦ On June 13, Paul Revere and Rachel Walker’s son, John Revere, is born.
♦ On June 27, Paul Revere and Rachel Walker’s son, John Revere, dies at two weeks old.
♦ In April, Paul Revere was commissioned a Major of Infantry in the Massachusetts militia.
1777:
♦ On April 30, Paul Revere and Rachel Walker’s son, Joseph Warren Revere, is born.
♦ In September, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Revere leads a detachment of troops to Worcester to take command of British soldiers captured at the Battle of Bennington.
1778:
♦ In July, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Revere is sent to reinforce General John Sullivan at Newport, Rhode island. The colonists were unable to recapture Newport and Revere returned home in September.
1779:
♦ From July to August, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Revere is in command of the artillery train for the Penobscot Expedition during the Revolutionary War.
♦ On September 9, 1779, Paul Revere is arrested and court-martialed for disobeying orders during the Penobscot Expedition.
♦ In October, Paul Revere is placed under house arrest for three days before being ordered to report to the Committee of Enquirey in regards to his court-martial case.
1780:
♦ On May 15, Paul Revere and Rachel Walker’s daughter, Lucy Revere, is born.
♦ On July 9, Paul Revere and Rachel Walker’s daughter, Lucy Revere, dies just short of three months old.
1781:
♦ On January 14, Paul Revere and Sarah Orne’s eldest daughter, Deborah Revere, marries Amos Lincoln, who is related to Abraham Lincoln.
1782:
♦ Paul Revere is acquitted of all charges in his court-martial case.
On July 20, Paul Revere and Rachel Walker’s daughter, Harriet Revere, is born.
1783:
♦ On December 25, Paul Revere and Rachel Walker’s son, John Revere, is born.
1785:
♦ On July 14, Paul Revere and Rachel Walker’s daughter, Maria Revere, is born.
1786:
♦ On March 13, Paul Revere and Rachel Walker’s son, John Revere, dies at the age of 3.
1787:
♦ On March 27, Paul Revere and Rachel Walker’s son, John Revere, is born.
1791:
♦ On July 5, Paul Revere and Sarah Orne’s daughter, Sarah Revere, dies at age 29.
1797:
♦ On January 8, Paul Revere and Sarah Orne’s eldest daughter, Deborah Revere, dies at age 39.
♦ On May 24, Paul Revere and Sarah Orne’s daughter, Elizabeth Revere, marries her sister’s widower, Amos Lincoln.
♦ In August, Paul Revere is appointed Commander of Fort Independence.
1799:
♦ On June 19, Paul Revere and Sarah Orne’s daughter, Frances Revere, dies at age 33.
1801:
♦ Paul Revere opens the first copper rolling mill in America.
♦ On August 14, Paul Revere and Rachel Walker’s son, Joshua Revere, dies at age 27.
1804:
♦ Paul Revere befriends Deborah Sampson, a woman who disguised herself as a man and fought in the Revolutionary War.
♦ On February 20, Paul Revere writes a letter to William Eustis, a member of Congress from Massachusetts, in support of a military pension for Deborah Sampson.
1805:
♦ In April, Paul Revere and Sarah Orne’s daughter, Elizabeth Revere, dies at age 35.
1811:
♦ Paul Revere retires and leaves his business in the care of his sons and grandsons.
1813:
♦ On January 16, Paul Revere and Sarah Orne’s eldest son, Paul Revere, dies at age 53.
♦ On June 16, Paul Revere’s wife, Rachel Walker, dies at age 68.
1814:
♦ In September, Paul Revere volunteers to help build Fort Strong on Noddle’s Island during the War of 1812.
1818:
♦ On May 10, 1818, Paul Revere dies of natural causes at the age of 83 and is buried in Granary Burying Ground in Boston.
If you want to learn more about Paul Revere, check out this article on the best books about Paul Revere.
Sources:
Jayne E. Triber. A True Republican: The Life of Paul Revere. University of Massachusetts Press, 1998.
Fischer, David Hackett. Paul Revere’s Ride. Oxford University Press, 1994.
“Letter from Paul Revere to William Eustis, 20 February 1804.” Massachusetts Historical Society,
www.masshist.org/database/326
“Sarah Orne Revere.” Find A Grave, www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=2109
A Volume of Records Relating to the Early History of Boston, Containing Boston Marriages from 1752 to 1809. Edited by Boston Record Commissioners. Municipal Printing Office, 1903.
“Paul Revere Timeline.” World History Project, worldhistoryproject.org/topics/paul-revere