Patrick Henry (1736–1799) was a distinguished statesman and orator during the American Revolution. Born in Hanover County, Virginia, Henry's public schooling was brief, for his education was taken over by his father, a well-educated gentleman. Henry first tried being a storekeeper but proved to be a poor businessman. He then turned to law and received his license in 1760.

Gaining fame as an orator, Henry was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses, where he became a leader. Taking on varying degrees of political responsibility, Henry served as governor of Virginia, became a conservative member of the Federalist party, but declined membership in the Constitutional Convention and the U.S. Senate. He refused George Washington's offers of appointment as secretary of state and chief justice of the Supreme Court. He was chiefly responsible for the drafting of the Bill of Rights. In 1796, Henry was elected governor of Virginia for the sixth time but refused to take office. His last campaign was for the office of representative in the Virginia state legislature. He won the election but died before taking office.