Contributed by Maine Historical Society
Description
Born in Boston, Robert Treat Paine attended Harvard, worked as a teacher, mastered a ship and eventually studied the law. He briefly had a practice in Portland (then Falmouth), but eventually settled in Boston and later Taunton, Massachusetts.
Paine became involved with the patriot cause after the Stamp Act in 1765, and prosecuted the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre in 1770.
He remained cautious about total separation from Britain and urged for reconciliation, hoping a united colonial approach could convince the Crown to negotiate. Even after the battles of Concord and Lexington, Paine voiced the need for caution and patience.
The King's rejection of the Olive Branch Petition in 1775 finally convinced Paine a peaceful approach to securing their liberties was not an option. By July of 1776, he believed independence was the answer and a declaration of views necessary.
Paine's letter spoke to the importance and urgency of manufacturing saltpeter and gunpowder. No large-scale manufacturing of those two resources existed in the colonies and this manuscript demonstrates the necessity of making those vital products for the war effort.
Transcription
About This Item
- Title: Robert Paine on manufacturing saltpeter and gunpowder, Philadelphia, 1776
- Creator: Robert Treat Paine
- Creation Date: 1776-03-16
- Subject Date: 1776-03-16
- Location: Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA
- Media: Ink on paper
- Dimensions: 32.86 cm x 20.32 cm
- Local Code: Coll. 420, Box 59/13
- Collection: John S. H. Fogg autograph collection
- Object Type: Text
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Lawyers--Boston--Massachusetts
- Stamp Act Congress (1765 : New York, N.Y.)
- United States. Declaration of Independence.
- United States. Declaration of Independence--Signers.
- United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--Causes
- United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783.
- Paine, Robert Treat, 1731-1814--Manuscripts.
- Paine, Robert Treat, 1731-1814--Correspondence
- Gunpowder
- Paine, Robert Treat, 1731-1814.
- Ammunition
- Arms & armament--United States
People
Other Keywords
- Congress
- Council
- Declaration
- House of Representatives
- Paine, Robert Treat (1731 - 1814)
- Philadelphia
- Production
- Saltpeter
- Signers
For more information about this item, contact:
Maine Historical Society485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
Website
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