Thomas Paine

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The Life and Writings of Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine was one of the most important minds in American History. Through his pamphlet Common Sense, he revolutionized political writing, by bringing his message to the most humble of people. He did so by making a clear, concise document, which could be understood by anyone.
Thomas Paine was born on January 29th 1737 in Norfolk England. His father, Joseph, was a Quaker staymaker (he made women’s corsets) and also had a small farm so he could afford to send Tom to grammar school. Tom’s mother was Francis Cooke, an Anglican, who seemed to have little or no influence on Tom’s upbringing.
Tom stayed in school until he was sixteen when he left home to join the privateer ship The Terrible, commanded by a fellow named Captain Death. Needless to say, his father was very concerned about his career choice, so he tracked Tom down and convinced him to come back home and continue his staymaker apprenticeship. Tom stayed with his apprenticeship for about three years until the beginning of the Seven Years’ War, whereupon he ran away and joined the privateer The King of Prussia. This would prove to be another failed career choice seeing as that he served on the ship for a maximum of one year. After leaving The King of Prussia, he resumed his staymaking business in London. Then in 1759, at the age of twenty-two, he married a maid named Mary Lambert. He then moved with his wife to Margate, a province outside of London, whereupon she died of unknown causes. Some historians believe she died during childbirth, but there is no record of her death.
After Mary’s death, Tom decided to pick up her father’s profession as a customs officer. It was a hard job and offered minimal wages, however it offered Tom a break from staymaking. He held the job for three years until he was fired for stamping some uninspected goods. Tom went back to staymaking and served as a grammar school Engl...