Patrick Henry Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Patrick Henry - Research Paper Example His Childhood Patrick Henry was born on May 29, 1736 to a Scottish-born planter in Studley in Hanover County, Virginia. He was the second born in a family of nine and began attending a local school few years after birth. However, he is reported to have received much of his education from his father, alumni of King’s College in Aberdeen. He is reported to have been a brilliant musical child who liked playing flute and fiddle. At the same time, he used to escort his uncle to religious sermons, where he is thought to have molded his great oratory style (Soylent Communications, 2012). Henry is said to have been a very ambitious boy who knew what is good for him. He began working at the age of 15 when he secured a job as a clerk at a nearby merchant store. However, he later partnered with his elder brother with whom they opened their own store. Nevertheless, the business was not successful as it collapsed few months after opening. It is here that Henry had the first experience of f ailure in his life. He met his wife Sarah Shelton in 1754, who paid him a 600-acre piece of land in the form of a dowry. Henry then resorted to farming by growing tobacco in this piece of land, something that he did for three years before bowing for lack of good returns. Immediately after abandoning farming, a misfortune befallen Henry when their farmhouse caught fire destroying everything they owned. As a result, he opted to take over the management of his father-in-law’s tavern where he got money to study law. He soon got a law license in 1760 after which he began practicing as a lawyer (Raphael, 2004). Politician and Lawyer Henry demonstrated his brilliance a persuasive lawyer soon after beginning his law practice, which made his very famous and reputable lawyer in the entire state of Virginia. This he argued and won a "Parson's Cause" case in 1763, which was meant to change the way church leaders were being paid in the U.S. However, King George III later overturned the la w prompting one of the clergy to sue for back pay thereby wining the case. However, it was Henry’s persuasive argument against the minister’s a move that made the clergy be paid damages. In the case, Henry pointed out high level of royal interference and greed on legal decisions. In the end, he managed to persuade the jury to award the lowest possible award to church ministers (Soylent Communications, 2012). He later developed an interest in politics and was soon elected to the House of Burgesses. His election to the House of Burgesses gave him the opportunity to prove himself as a voice of dissent against the colonial policies pursued by the British government. His radical voice of opposition against the British policies was first witnessed when he strongly opposed the British move to tax every printed-paper used by the colonists through the Stamp Act of 1765. He argued during the debate that only the colony should be allowed to tax its citizens and not the vice versa . In fact, some members in the house are reported to have cited Henry’s comments as treason, but Henry being a courageous man stood his ground. Report indicates that his suggestion on how the matter should be handled received wide media coverage in the U.S. and beyond, as copies to his suggestions were later distributed to colonies, which helped in inciting people against the Briti