Paul Revere ~ January 1, 1735 - May 10, 1818

His gravestone gives his birth and death dates as follows:

Born January 1734

Died May 1818

The Old Style Calendar gives his birth as December 21, 1734 and the modern calendar dates him as being born January 1, 1735, dying on May 10, 1818.

The home he lived in from 1770-1800 is now a museum, 19 N. Square, Boston.

He, or Longfellow, made the Old North Church famous. Revere is also more famous than the other riders due to his poem but that's another story.

On the eve of April 18, 1775, Paul Revere was asked to ride to Lexington to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams that the British were coming, by sea. Paul asked the sexton of the Old North Church to hang the two lanterns, which was a pre-arranged signal to the Sons of Liberty across the Charles River in case Revere could not get through.

Revere was successfully rowed across the river and took off on a borrowed horse. At least two other riders also set out that night, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott (and maybe Israel Bissell and Sybil Ludington). Revere made it to Lexington and warned John Hancock and Samuel Adams who were staying at the Hancock-Clarke house.

After Lexington, the three riders headed towards Concord but were captured by the British. Dawes and Prescott escaped. Revere was held and questioned and then let go, but without his horse. He walked back to Lexington and caught the end of the battle on Lexington Green.

Paul Revere died at his home on Charter Street in Boston at age 83 and is buried in Granary Burying Ground in Boston. John Hancock and Samuel Adams also reside in this cemetery.

Silversmith and Revolutionary War hero, RIP to Paul Revere.