Lycée George-Sand La Châtre

PAUL REVERE, THE FACTS : 

 Paul Revere was born the 1st of January 1735 (Old style dates : 21 December 1734) and died the 10th of May 1818. He was an American silversmith and a patriot in the American Revolution. 

 He became very famous thanks to the so- called "Midnight ride". It happened in the night from the 18 to 19 april 1775, a few hours before the battles of Lexington and Concord. Joseph Warren orderded him and his friend William Dawes to go to Boston and warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams of the British army’s movement that was heading towards Boston. The British army was staying in a military base near Boston since the docks had closed after the Boston Tea Party. The army started to move along the river Charles to Lexington and the Sons of Liberty immediately started to make actions. Around 11 o’clock pm Paul was sent by Warren across the Charles river in Charlestown, where he could start his journey to Lexington. Meanwhile Dawes was sent to Lexington by the land road. Newman and John Pulling lit two lanterns in the old North Church, which meant that the army was crossing the Charles river.

So Revere got on his horse to warn the people that the British soldiers were crossing the river. He went through villages that today are known as Somerville, Medford, and Arlington. Paul warned all the patriots that were along his road and these patriots took their horses to warn their own chief. Paul Revere arrived in Lexington around midnight and Dawes half an hour later. After that Paul and Dawes decided to go to Concord were the milice arsenal was hidden. They were joined by Samuel Prescott, a doctor which was in Lexington. The three men were stopped by the Bristish army in Lincoln where the army had made a roadblock on the road to Concord. Prescott jumped off his horse onto a wall and escaped in the woods, Dawes also escaped. But Revere was captured, detained and interrogated, and escorted back to Lexington by three British officers.

PAUL REVERE, THE MYTH : 

Paul Revere Statue, North End Boston

Paul Revere is known by many people through paintings, scuptures, books etc. Many sculptures of Paul Revere are installed on public places.There are many artists who want to transmit the story of this American hero. The most frequently employed support is drawing.

This is the oldest support employed to describe Paul Revere. The first camera was built in 1780, but there are no pictures from him. There are a lot of paintings of Revere like « The midnight ride of Paul Revere », « Paul Revere’s ride » etc.

Films and books were written about the history of his midnight ride ; even cartoons  were made to teach children the story of this national hero.

Pink Panther in

Pink Revere
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Midnight ride is the title of several songs too. They express the sense of liberty and inspire rock bands like Midnight Riders or Greg Allman.

Assassin’s creed 3

Paul Revere is also known by most young people thanks to the Electronic Arts game Assassin’s Creed 3.

Many efforts are made to keep alive Paul Revere’s memory.