who was patrick henry

Patrick Henry (1736–1799) was an American politician, orator, and Founding Father known for his passionate speeches that fueled the American Revolution. He famously declared "Give me liberty or give me death!" at the Second Virginia Convention in 1775. Henry served as the first and sixth post-colonial governor of Virginia, and was influential in advocating for American independence and states' rights. He opposed the ratification of the U.S. Constitution initially, fearing a strong central government without a Bill of Rights. Henry was a skilled lawyer and politician whose oratory helped galvanize the revolutionary cause in Virginia and beyond.