Tom Paine -1737 – 1809
Writer and Revolutionary
By Jill Scholey
14th Jan.2012
Continued
Mr Ollive died in 1769. Paine eventually took over the business and married the daughter Elizabeth in 1771.
It seemed that he was not a good business man.
His marriage too failed and in 1774 he declared himself bankrupt.
Paine visited London again and met Benjamin Franklin, the American agent- general in London, and a noted scientist and inventor.
This meeting was to inspire Paine to leave for America. Franklin gave Paine a letter of introduction to his son in law in Philadelphia.
In September 1774 Paine embarked on a ship bound for America.
After an eight week voyage and attacked by typhus, an incapacitated Paine arrived on American soil.
However, he had a strong constitution and before long was presenting his letter of introduction to Franklin’s son in law, Richard Bache.
Paine soon became acquainted with local bookshop owner, Robert Aitkin,who offered him the post of executive editor of a new journal The Pennsylvania Magazine. Paine accepted with enthusiasm.
This magazine was to be produced in the British colony of America, by and for the colonists.
Under Paine’s editorship of the magazine, circulation grew.
Though many colonists fretted against British rule and resented the King’s taxes and laws, they were generally loyal to the crown.
However, antagonism against the British was growing, and Paine’s own radical views were being honed in this new country.
To be continued
