Born on May 29, 1736, at Studley, Hanover Co. Va., Patrick Henry, was the oldest of 10 children. His mother, Sarah Henry, and father, John Henry, along with the rest of the family, had the knack for independent thinking and gifted speaking. At twelve years old, Patrick Henry could repeat entire sermons that the ministers had given, and in a grabbing voice too.
When Patrick turned 15, John decided it was time for him to start doing a man's work, so he bought enough supplies to open a store. Patrick, and his brother William were given the job as shopkeeper. Many farmers were sold to on credit, and when their crops did badly, they couldn't pay. The shop didn't do that well, and eventually failed all together.
Patrick was still as lighthearted as ever. During this time Patrick was thinking...he knew he could not make a living farming or storekeeping.. What could a person do to support a growing family, and what could Patrick Henry do well? He could talk.
Good talkers were needed as ministers, teachers, and lawyers. Henry decided to become a lawyer. As six of the twelve justices of the Hanover courts were his relatives, Patrick knew a lot about what happened in courts, and about laws. He could argue from logic and history with great force.
Patrick Henry, by this time a well known lawyer, though having only praciticed in small courts and never in major public appearances, was faced with his first real case as Parson Maury was trying to collect money owed to him by the parish. As the trial began, Judge John Henry wondered how Patrick, who had failed at so many things, would do. Head down, eyes downcast, and nearly hidden, young Henry stumbled over his opening words. Judge Henry felt embarrassed that his son was doing so poorly. Twenty parsons in the front row beamed. Once Maury won this case, their own chances for collecting back pay would be excellent. Then the ministers stopped smiling as Henry's head came up and his shoulders straightened. No longer stooping, he rose to his full height. His intense blue eyes flashed toward the jury. His deep voice rose and fell, washing across the room. It invited first a chuckle, then a gasp of shock. The voice dripped with scorn or blazed with anger.
The day Henry attented the Virginia Assembly, just happened to be his 29th birthday, May 29, 1765. He had been elected to the House of Burgesses. Although the youngest of the members, he was the only one to speak out against the terrible stamp tax that was being debated. He held a piece of paper out with Resolves on it, statements that he wanted the Assembly to pass. One was an idea that said people in Virginia could only be taxed if they had voted on the law to tax them, so England could not collect taxes. People jumped at that, yelling and threatening him, but he yelled right back at them, his voice filling the entire hall. At one point one man yelled out "Treason! Treason!" To which Henry repplied, "If this be treason...make the most of it!"
"I know not what course others may take, but as for me,
Give me liberty...or give me death!"
