Paul Revere

In One April in Boston, you experienced Paul Revere's midnight ride to Lexington on the evening of April 18, 1775. For many people, Paul Revere's life is defined by this one dramatic moment. Actually, Revere lived a remarkable life as a goldsmith/silversmith, engraver, and one of America's first industrialists. As a master silversmith, his work was highly praised during his lifetime, and his silver items are of great value today.

Paul Revere (1734-1818) began his career as an apprentice in his father's gold and silversmith shop that was located on Fish Street at the head of Clark's Wharf. After his father's death in 1754, the business was continued by Paul's mother Deborah Revere, Paul and Thomas Revere. In 1756, Paul volunteered for a year of service in the French and Indian War. He returned to run the family shop at the Clark's Wharf location where he produced most of his work in silver. There was more of a demand for silver work, as gold was very expensive.

Over the years, Revere relocated his silversmith shop several times. From Clark's Wharf he moved to a location in the south part of town opposite Liberty-Pole (currently Washington and Essex streets). Revere had a hardware store at this address in 1783 and likely ran his silver shop here as well. From here, the shop moved to Dock-Square in 1786; No. 50 Cornhill in 1787; No. 8 Union Street in 1789; and Ann Street in 1790. He employed many apprentices including his eldest son, Paul Jr., who ran the day to-day operations of the shop in the 1780s.

During his career as a silversmith, Paul Revere supplemented his income in numerous ways including work as a dentist and engraver. He advertised as a dentist from 1768 to the start of the Revolution, offering to clean teeth and wire in false teeth. As a copper plate engraver, Revere created the well-known engraving of the Boston Massacre; an engraving showing the British troops landing at Long Wharf in 1768 and illustrations for books and magazines. He also did engraving work for continental currency and lead metal engravings for newspapers including the mastheads of the Boston Gazette and the Massachusetts Spy.

Paul Revere was a Freemason and developed social and political connections with the likes of James Otis and Dr. Joseph Warren. He was also a member of the North Caucus and the Long Room Club. The latter held its secret meetings above the printing shop where Benjamin Edes and John Gill produced the Boston Gazette. Prior to the Revolution, Paul Revere was a courier for the Boston Committee of Correspondence and Massachusetts Committee of Safety. Revere made numerous rides including trips to New York and Philadelphia in 1773 and 1774 to carry news of the Boston Tea Party, the Coercive Acts and Boston Port Bill that closed the port of Boston. He also rode express to carry the Suffolk Resolves to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1774.

After the Revolutionary War broke out, Paul Revere learned how to manufacture gun powder from the owner of a powder factory in Philadelphia. He returned to Boston and oversaw the construction of a powder mill in Canton that would supply gunpowder for the newly formed Continental Army. During the Revolution, Paul Revere served as a lieutenant colonel in the Massachusetts militia and was commander of Castle Island in Boston Harbor. He made an expedition to Rhode Island in 1778 and participated in the failed Penobscot Expedition in 1779 where he was accused of disobeying a commanding officer's orders. Later, a formal court-martial that Revere requested cleared his name.

By 1788, while still operating his silversmith shop and hardware store, Revere opened a foundry and produced bolts, spikes, nails, and cannons for ships. After 1792, he began to cast bells at his foundry in the North End of Boston, and was assisted by his sons Paul Revere Jr. and Joseph Warren Revere. In 1801, at the age of 65, Paul Revere opened the first copper rolling mill in North America. At his mill in Canton, Massachusetts, he produced sheet copper for the dome of the new Massachusetts State House in 1802 and for the hulls of many ships.

During our walking tours, you'll hold and read original colonial newspapers containing ads for Paul Revere's businesses!

Paul Revere had 16 children with his wives Sarah Orne (1736-1773) and Rachel Walker (1745-1813). He retired in 1811 at the age of 76. Revere passed his copper business, and the good reputation it had earned, on to his sons and grandsons. He spent his final years surrounded by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. These young boys and girls surely asked Paul Revere about the events of April 18, 1775, but they also knew of his many other accomplishments. Revere died on May 10, 1818 at the age of 83.

Paul Revere was not born to wealth or inheritance. He was an ordinary man who lived an extraordinary life. Revere was a patriot, a businessman, an involved citizen, and a popular and well-respected member of his community. Today, the staff at the Paul Revere House is dedicated to preserving Paul Revere's memory and his place in American history for future generations. Because of their work, the intrigue of Paul Revere's Boston is alive and well at the patriot's former home at 19 North Square. It is a site you won't want to miss during our Walking Tours of Historic Boston!