Birth of Thomas Paine
Birth of Thomas Paine
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Thomas Paine Biography and Timeline
Follow Thomas Paine through 50 dated historical records for Great Britain.
Thomas Paine, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
50Distinct records
1 of 2Page
1737–1794Years on this page
1737
1744
Apprenticeship in Corset Making
Thomas Paine entered training in his father's trade as a staymaker, years before becoming a political writer.
1757
Work as an Excise Officer
Paine began working in the excise service, experiencing the administrative conditions he would later criticize.
1768
Appointment at Lewes Excise Office
Paine settled in Lewes while serving in the excise administration and engaging with local political discussion.
1772
The Case of the Officers of Excise
Paine wrote The Case of the Officers of Excise, advocating higher pay and fairer treatment for excise employees.
1774
Arrival in Philadelphia
Paine arrived in Philadelphia, where his political journalism soon became part of the colonial debate.
Meeting with Benjamin Franklin
Paine met Benjamin Franklin in London and obtained assistance that facilitated his emigration to North America.
1775
African Slavery in America Essay
An antislavery essay titled African Slavery in America appeared in the Pennsylvania Magazine during Paine's editorial tenure; its authorship is disputed.
Pennsylvania Magazine Editorial Work
Paine worked as an editor of the Pennsylvania Magazine, contributing essays on political and social subjects.
1776
American Crisis", essay
Publication of "American Crisis", essay
American Crisis
Publication of "American Crisis", essay
Argument for American Independence
Paine's Common Sense advanced a forceful case for independence from Britain and helped popularize republican arguments.
Common Sense
Publication of "Common Sense"
First American Crisis Essay
Paine issued the first American Crisis essay to encourage the revolutionary cause during a period of military danger.
Republican Government and Representation
In Common Sense, Paine advocated representative government rather than hereditary monarchy.
1777
American Crisis Continues
Paine published further American Crisis essays to sustain public support for the Revolution.
Secretary to Continental Foreign Affairs Committee
Paine became secretary to the Continental Congress's Committee for Foreign Affairs, entering revolutionary administration.
1778
American Crisis and Military Morale
Paine continued writing American Crisis essays during the struggle for independence, combining political argument with morale building.
1779
Silas Deane Controversy
Paine became involved in a public controversy over diplomat Silas Deane and lost his congressional secretarial position.
1780
Fundraising for Continental Army
Paine supported efforts to raise aid for the Continental Army amid the Revolution's financial strains.
Public Good Pamphlet
Paine published Public Good, arguing about western lands and their significance for the new republic.
1781
Mission to France for Aid
Paine traveled to France with John Laurens to help seek assistance for the American war effort.
1782
Letter to Abbe Raynal
Paine published a letter challenging Abbe Raynal's interpretation of the American Revolution.
1783
Final American Crisis Essay
Paine issued the concluding American Crisis installment as the Revolutionary War approached its political settlement.
1785
Bridge Engineering Research
Paine developed plans for an iron bridge, combining mechanical experimentation with his broader reform interests.
1787
Arrival in Europe for Bridge Project
Paine traveled to Europe to pursue support for his iron bridge design and renewed political contacts.
1788
Iron Bridge Design Publicity
Paine promoted his iron bridge project in Britain, presenting engineering innovation alongside his political interests.
1789
Response to French Revolution
Paine welcomed the early French Revolution and engaged with debates about political rights and monarchy.
1791
Rights and Representative Government
Paine argued that legitimate government derives from the rights and consent of living people rather than hereditary privilege.
Rights of Man Public Debate
Paine defended the principles of the French Revolution against conservative criticism in a widely debated political work.
Rights of Man
Publication of "The Rights of Man", 1st part
1792
Election to French National Convention
Paine was elected to the French National Convention as a participant in the new republican politics.
Rights of Man Social Reform Proposals
In the second part of Rights of Man, Paine proposed measures addressing poverty, education and old age.
Rights of Man
Publication of "The Rights of Man", 2nd part
The Rights of Man", 2nd part
Publication of "The Rights of Man", 2nd part
Trial for Seditious Libel
British authorities prosecuted Paine for Rights of Man and convicted him in absentia after he went to France.
1793
Imprisonment during the Terror
Paine was imprisoned in France during the Terror amid revolutionary political struggles.
Opposition to Execution of Louis XVI
Paine opposed executing Louis XVI and urged an alternative that would demonstrate republican restraint.
1794
Release from Luxembourg Prison
Paine was released from prison after political changes in revolutionary France and diplomatic intervention.
The Age of Reason First Part
Paine published the first part of The Age of Reason, presenting a deist critique of revealed religion.
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.