Born in Hanover County, Virginia, in 1736, Patrick Henry was self-educated. After failing as a storekeeper and a farmer, Henry studied and became a lawyer in 1760.

In 1765, he became a member of the House of Burgesses, the colonial legislature of Virginia. Fiercely rebellious, he led protests against British taxes imposed on the colonies. In 1769, he urged a break from Great Britain. Henry was chairman of a committee that prepared a defense plan for Virginia during the American Revolution (1775-83) and helped draft the Virginia Constitution. He was governor of Virginia (1776-79, 1784-86) and a delegate to the Virginia convention (1788) for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Believing the Constitution did not safeguard the rights of states and of individuals, he led support for the Bill of Rights—the first ten amendments to the Constitution. After declining several government positions, he was elected to the Virginia...