Thomas Paine son of Joseph Pain was born on January 29, 1737 in England, Thetford in Norfolk. He dropped out of school due to lack of funds and later moved to British American colonies, at the helm of the America revolution in the year 1774 so that he could participate. He later changed his name from Paine to Pain. Thomas Pain died without offspring; his first wife, Mary died together with their child. The second marriage didn’t bring any fruit instead they divorced at around 1774 shortly before his involvement in American colonies. Financially, he failed in his shop business due to active participation in local affairs where a debating club was established at a local tavern courtesy of Thomas Pain. However he was fired as an excise officer for failing to report to work without permission. This was an individual who fought for better working conditions and compensation for the excise officers and this might have been the reason why he was discharged of his duties (Aldridge 32).
While in Philadelphia, Pain’s career as a journalist gave him great opportunity to contribute to American Revolution when he wrote a pamphlet, Common Sense in 1776. This publication crowned him reputation as a revolutionary propagandist. In this publication he strongly advocated for America’s independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain colonialism. Thomas Pain opposed monarchical government and any America’s reconciliation with Great Britain and he was for American independence an immediate action and the approval of a republican structural form of constitution for the people of America. Pain through his publications, he encouraged resistance and strongly believed that America was unbeatable. While in Pennsylvania (1776–1783), he further staged revolutionary campaigns by publishing a pro-revolutionary pamphlet named The American Crisis. The “Crisis” journal mainly advocated for a state tax system and well-organized federal government so that the Kingdom of Great Britain would finally be on familiar terms with American independence (Aldridge 33).
Finally America gained independence after pro-revolutionary campaigns spearheaded by Pain in which played a major role by encouraging resistance, criticizing the faint-hearted Americans and inspiring faith in the Continental Army. At the end of war Thomas Pain was paid by the government for his pro-revolutionary efforts in which he was given a farm by New York at New Rochelle where he was later buried. Furthermore he was compensated in monetary terms as follows; ÂŁ500 from Pennsylvania States and Congress compensated with $3000. Thomas Pain never participated in the establishment of a state tax system and well-organized federal government that he had advocated for. On contrary he devoted trying to conceive the idea iron bridge and smokeless candle of which he abandoned the idea due to financially constrain (Conways 46).
Having accomplished his mission as a pro-revolutionary individual in America, Pain left for France in 1787 and again in 1790s, he embarked on pro-revolutionary activities in Britain where he published a pamphlet, Rights of Man. In this pamphlet, Pain attacked British constitution and all hereditary government, instead recommended a democratic republic which he felt confident that it will protect the equal political rights of all men in Britain. Being a radical, Pain argued for social legislation to improve economic status of the poor. He was forced to leave Britain to France in September 1772 and he was later declared a criminal in absentia because of his anti-monarchist views by the British government (Foner 67).
Often tactless, Thomas Pain’s found himself in trouble with France authorities when he failed to back the execution of Louis XVI August 1792 despite having been elected to the National Convention. To add salt to the injury he published a pamphlet, The Age of Reason (London and Boston, 1794-95), where Pain objected Christianity, disagreeing that the Bible the revealed word of God. Moreover he expressed disapproval several of the Old Testament stories as decadent and alleged that the Christianity were flawed by discrepancies. By hitting on the Christian doctrines and institutionalized religion and his efforts to preach deism to the people attracted negative publicity both in France and America. He spent some time in France during Napoleonic reign, again criticized Napoleon’s oppressive leadership, calling him “the completest charlatan that ever existed” (Foner 68).
Finally in 1802, courtesy of President Jefferson’s, Pain returned to America and later died in 1809. His last days were miserable namely poor health, alcoholism and poverty.Only six people graced with their presence his funeral as he had been out of favor with people for his scorn and criticisms of Christianity. He was buried in a corner of his farm in New Rochelle, New York. Later his bones were exhumed and the whereabouts of his remains is still a mystery (Aldridge 78).
In summary Pain’s political influence was utmost in England where British Radical wanted parliamentary reform which would give a chance to all men the vote for members of the House of Commons. This was because of his pamphlet, Rights of Man which became best-selling in late 18th century England. On contrary Pain never institutionalized a political organization and was never behind any single political reforming measure in America and France. Indeed Pain successes were theoretical (pamphlet writing). Actually Thomas Pain was an intellect, revolutionary and inventor (Tepfer, par. 6).
During the colonial period, 1650-1750 writers like Branford’s writer of Plymouth Plantation, Rowlandson’s “A Narrative of the Captivity” and Edward’s “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” employed diaries, personal narrative and sermons as their form of communication and it was written in plain. This was used as an instructive tool to the people and emphasizes authority of the Bible and church. The message was that human’s luck is determined by God. Further they urged that all people be saved by Christ. Around the same time, the letter, The Crucible & The Scarlet Letter illustrated life during the time when Puritan theocracy reigned. Thomas Pain was familiar with works of other writer during colonial period and his form of communication was via pamphlet. These evidences, while in prison Pain was inspired by Newton, being a deist policy to write his third influential piece, The Age Of Reason. He rejected Christianity and denied the Bible and his attempts to preach deism made him an outcast. In his published pamphlet, The Age of Reason (London and Boston, 1794-95), Pain objected Christianity, disagreeing that the Bible the revealed word of God. Moreover he expressed disapproval several of the Old Testament stories as decadent and alleged that the Christianity were flawed by discrepancies (Tepfer, par. 8).
Under Revolutionary/Age of Reason (1750-1800), styles used by writers were, Travel writing, Political pamphlets, Persuasive writing and ornate style. A writer like Franklin’s who wrote Poor Richard’s Almanac and Writings of Jefferson, Henry wrote to encourage Revolutionary War by those who read. Around the same time Thomas Pain wrote pro-revolutionary Pamphlets to the same effect. The aspect of Thomas Pain and other writers’ writings was to encourage Patriotism among the colonized Americans and create common ground about the issues affecting them. Indeed Thomas Pain writings were familiar with other works of other writer around the same period (Kaye 74).
Furthermore under Romanticism period, 1800-1860 writers included Washington Irving’s who wrote “Rip Van Winkle”, Dunbar’s of “We Wear the Mask”, Poems of Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman and William Cullen Bryant’s who wrote “Thanatopsis”. The genre used was by poetry, short stories, character sketching and slave narratives to pass information to colonized American. The features of their writing helped men and women infuse appropriate gender behavior and gave insight into American past. They encouraged civilization from corruption and restrictions of coherent thought toward the truthfulness of nature and freedom of the thoughts. Historically, there was debate about slavery and Industrial revolution took place. Pain wrote about the same in his pamphlet freethinking, where he opposed Christian doctrine by hitting on the Christian doctrines and institutionalized religion and his efforts to preach deism to the people. During Romanticism period there was increase in book publishing, newspaper and magazine writing which is believed that Thomas Pain may have also read. In essence all these writers were call in freedom of thoughts, civilization from corruption and end to slavery (Kaye 58).
During the American renaissance period of 1840-1860, writers like Thoreau’s Walden, Emerson & Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s, and Poe made a great impart to people of America. They employed the following styles Novels Short Stories, and Anti-Transcendentalists to attract readers’ attention through horrible series of dreadful possibilities. In addition they drew features of dark forests, depressed characters, intense vegetation, and ruins with horrifying rooms. On the other hand Thomas Pain used words to convey his message. Other writers around the same period used portraits for example picture of victimized young girl separated from her true love, people looking for true beauty in life and fulfillment. The aspect of distinctiveness and self-sufficiency for the American national was strongly encouraged to bring out individual’s talent in the quest for the independence from colonial hand of The Great Britain.
Finally came the era Realism, 1855-1900, the season of civil war and the war period. This marked the end of colonialism and ushered in America independence which had far-reaching implication of social, economical and political well being of colonized nations. Writers at that time used stories, objective narration and use of hidden language (metaphors) to pass ideas to the people in America. Renown writers and the writing were; Writings of Twain, Bierce, Crane, the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1st modern novel), The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and the Awakening. Ethan Frome and Antonia. Their message brought phase of social realism which aimed at changing the social-economic status of the society of which it the objective was achieved when America gained independence. Compared to Thomas Pain pamphlet, Rights of Man, he proposed for ideas such as improvement in taxation and free public education that were considered radical which would improve social status of the people. Pain’s works were familiar works of writers during Realism Era as they both crusaded for the idea of Aesthetic realism (visualization of the world) in their publications. The Rights of Man, his biggest achievement, advocated for plans for the nations to unite and work together in harmony for the good of all which was a radical idea at that time. His passion for freedom and dislike for injustice in Pain era was evident in everything he wrote. The same agenda was major issue of other writers from the colonial period to the civil war period. Based on their pro-revolutionary activities channeled through publications, they encouraged the army to fight during the civil war in which they the America won independence. Thomas Pain writings were familiar with the works of writers from colonial period to the civil war except in few occasions and the time for example; when he rejected Christianity and denied the Bible and his attempts to preach deism made him an outcast while Edward’s “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God’ advocated for Christianity (Aldridge 59).
During his child hood, Thomas Pain developed his justice beliefs on listening to a crowd jeering and harassing the town people. His father who had a vision for his son also inspired him in his early life, he tried to educate him at a local school but was forced to train him in his trade and he later worked at Lincolnshire as an excise man (Tepfer, par. 5).
Later in life, Pain met the American Indians who made an impact on him, not only by their ability to live with nature in peace and harmony but also achieving a sound decision making method. This aided Pain to improve his thinking on how to put the society in order. Therefore he became an activist of revolution, opposing slavery, monarchy and any reunites with the Great Britain and advocating for liberalism and republicanism. He proposed for ideas such as improvement in taxation and free public education that were considered radical. When Pain went to Lewes, he participated actively in local affairs, served on the town council and established a debate club (Foner 53).
Pain started his career as a journalist while in Philadelphia, contributing in Pennsylvania articles on a variety of topics which contributed to his being a pamphleteer and a reformer. It is due to his passion for the common man that pain committed himself to American independence. Burke’s struggle against the French Revolution stirred Pain to writing his most influential piece, the Rights of Man (Part I in 1791 and Part II in 1792) (Foner 56).
Furthermore, while in prison Pain was inspired by Newton, being a deist policy to write his third influential piece, The Age Of Reason. He rejected Christianity and denied the Bible and his attempts to preach deism made him an outcast. In addition, Pain was also influenced by radicals before him who had tried to advocate for reforms of parliament. He emphasized on the ethical basis of the natural impartiality of men in God’s sight in the Rights of Man (Kaye 32).
Born in 1737, Pain attended school in the days when education was not compulsory in the Great Britain. Pain went to live in the British colonies in the times of American Revolution and he became one of the founding fathers of the United State. It was during the colonial period that he participated in advocating for independence in America. While in Britain in 1767, there was a group that met occasionally to talk about town politics which Pain joined (Aldridge 50).
Later, Thomas Pain moved to France where he lived during the Napoleonic era, he expressed disapproval of napoleon’s leadership.in America and kmFrance; Thomas Pain can be identified as a true philosopher and father of revolutions. The pamphlets he wrote united the American colonies and strengthened the revolutionary army at the spot of defeat (Aldridge 56).
The Rights of Man, his biggest achievement, advocated for plans for the nations to unite and work together in harmony for the good of all which was a radical idea at that time. His passion for freedom and dislike for injustice in Pain era was evident in everything he wrote. Thomas Pain spoke to all ages, people, nations and any time to any place where the supreme of human liberation face the precarious realities of authority. In Pain era, only a democratic republic could work to safeguard the political rights of the people. However all forms of the hereditary British government were despised for they were based on force and mockery. Pain snubbed the policy to appeal to the parliament for reforms and urged them to call for a national conference to set up a republican type of government. Pain had a dream for humanity; he was against slavery in America and advocated for peace and security for the aged and the disadvantaged. He conveyed the initiative of the revolution to both the intellectuals and the common man (Tepfer, par. 6).
Thomas Pain died on the dawn of June 8, 1809 in New York City at the age of 72, America where he had returned on an invitation by President Jefferson, during the great political leanings. At the time of his death, Pain was detested and abandoned by his friends and ridiculed by the public due to his critique on religion in his book “the age of reason”, his ideas on the American government in “common sense”, his being associated with the French revolution and being President Jefferson’s close friend. For this reasons, only six people went to his funeral. There was no ceremony, spectacle or a civic procession in his honor, of the six was his wife and son on a horseback, two blacks on foot as he was escorted in a carriage (Conways 45).
Pain had lived a legendary life, however before his death; he was shunned, criticized and despised. His virtues were condemned as vices, what he had done forgotten and his character destroyed. His last years were manifested with alcoholism, poverty and bad health. He died an outcast for he had many enemies and his remains could not be buried in a decent place but laid to rest in a corner at his farm (Aldridge 65).
Thomas Pain’ remains were buried in New Rochelle, New York, but years later William Cobbett transported his bones back to UK for a heroic burial. However, when Cobbett died twenty years later, Pain bones lay among his belongings. After Cobbett’s death , Pain remains were found among his belongings, its not known were they are today, although on the other hand different people allege to be in possession of pieces of Thomas Pain’ remains for instance; right hand and his skull.
References
Aldridge, Owen. Thomas Paine’s American Ideology. Delaware: University of Delaware Press, 1984.
Conway, Daniel. The Life of Thomas Paine, 2 vols. G.P. NY: Putnam’s Sons, 1892.
Foner, Eric. Tom Paine and Revolutionary America. New York: Oxford University Press, 1976.
Kaye, Harvey J. Thomas Paine and the Promise of America. New Yok: Hill and Wang, 2005.
Tepfer, James. The Religious and Political Philosophy of Thomas Pain. 2006. Web.