Paul Revere

"In the fall of 1774 and the winter of 1775, I was one of upwards of thirty men who formed ourselves into a committee for the purpose of watching the movements if the British soldiers, and gaining every intelligence of the movements of the Tories."

WHO HE WAS: Before he rode through the countryside alerting the patriots that the British troops were coming, Paul Revere was a silversmith in Boston who once fought in the French and Indian War. His father was from France and changed his name from Apollos Rivoire to Revere. Paul's opinions were influenced by his friendships with other patriots. Since he lived in the heart of Boston, he was able to observe the movements of the British troops that were stationed there. It was very dangerous work. 

His famous midnight ride was not the first ride he took to tell the patriots about what the British troops were doing.

WHAT HE SAID: "Noise!" cried Revere, "You'll have noise enough before long. The regulars are coming out!"