Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/671

Rh livered an oration on the first anniversary of the dissolution of the alliance with France, for which he was complimented by Gen. Washington. He delivered a eulogy on Washington at Newburyport on 2 Jan., 1800. Although possessing a prolific imagination, bold views, wit, and sarcasm, Paine's writings are all commonplace. In searching for effect he became tawdry. A collection of his writ- ings was published by Charles Prentiss (Boston, 1812). — His great-grandson, Charles Jackson, soldier, b. in Boston, Mass., 2(5 Aug., 1883, was graduated at Harvard in 1853, and entered the National army as captain in the 22d Massachusetts volunteers on 8 Oct., 1861. He became major of the Eastern Bay State regiment on 14 Jan., 18G2, was sent to Ship island. Miss., was made colonel of the 2d Louisiana volunteers in September, 1862, and led a brigade during the siege of Port Hudson, La., 24 May till 8 July, 1863. He then joined Gen. Benjamin F. Butler in the Department of Virginia and North Carolina, participating in the battle of Drewry's Bluff, Va., 12-16 May, 1864, and commanded a division of coloi'ed troops in the at- tack at Newmarket, Va., 29 Sept., 1864. He also participated in the expedition against Port Fisher, lo Jan.. 1865, was afterward with Sherman's army in North Carolina, and was in command of the district of New Berne. He was appoint- ed brigadier-general of volun- teers on 4 July, 1864, received the brevet of major-general of volunteers on 15 Jan., 1865. and was mustered out on 15 Jan., 1866. Gen. Paine has taken much interest in yacht- ing, is a member of the New York yacht club, and has three limes successfully defended the "America's" cup. for which service the club, in February, 1888, presented him the silver cup represented in the illus- tration. The original is twen- ty-seven inches high. In 1885 he was one of the syndicate that built the " Puritan," with which he defeated the " Genesta," and in 1886-'? built alone the " Mayflower," which contested the cup with the •' Galatea," and the " Volunteer," which defeated the " Thistle " in September, 1887.

PAINE, Thomas, author, b. in Thetford, Nor- folk, England, 29 Jan., 1737 ; d. in New York city, 8 June, 1809. His father, Joseph, was a stay-maker by trade, and belonged to the Society of Frientls. The son attended the grammar-school, but at thir- teen was put to his father's trade. At about the age of nineteen he went to sea, but he was back at stay-making not long after. He worked at his trade in London for two years, removing thence to Dover in 1758, and from there in April, 1759, to Sandwich, where, on 27 Sept., 1759, he married Mary Lambert. His wife lived but one year, dy- ing in Margate in 1760. He then obtained a place in the excise service. His leisure time he spent in writing humorous and political prose and verse, now and then preaching in the market-place to sucl) casual passers-by as cared to listen. In 1772 the excisemen began an agitation for an advance of salary and Paine was deputed to draw up a statement of their grievances ; he distributed copies of his tract among the members of pai'lia- ment and scattered them in London. The tract was an able effort, but the agitation failed, and not long afterward Paine was dismissed from his appointment, 8 April, 1774. He went to London, and there was introduced to Franklin by George Lewis Scott. Armed with a letter of introduction from Franklin to his son-in-law Baehe, Paine sailed to America, land- ing on 30 Nov., 1774. The letter described him as an "ingenious, worthy young man," and made the suggestion of em- ployment as a clerk or surveyor. In Philadel- phia he became connect- ed with Robert Aitken, and within a year be- came editor of Aitken's " Pennsylvania Magazine or American Museum." On 8 March of that year (1775) he contributed to Bradford's " Pennsylva- nia Journal," a strong anti-slavery essay. Just about this time came the battle of Lexington, and Paine, who had hitherto tried liard for recon- ciliation, now determined to voice the sentiment of independence, and " Common Sense " appeared 10 Jan., 1776. It was anonymous. Franklin and John Adams were among the many to whom it was attributed, but the name of the real author was not long concealed. A battle of words which soon followed in the columns of Bradford's "Jour- nal " between "The Forester," or Paine, and " Cato," or Rev. William Smith, added to his fame. Though sometimes overestimated by too fond ad- mirers, there is no doubt that "Common Sense" was an important factor in the creation of the sentiment that culminated in the declaration of the following July. His " Crisis " was likewise of great service to the patriot cause ; the first number appeared in the " Pennsylvania Jour- nal " for 19 Dec, 1776, and others followed at irregular intervals. Before the publication of the " Crisis " Paine had served for a short time in the provincial army, acting as a vol- unteer aide-de-camp to Nathanael Greene and taking part in the retreat after the capture of Fort Lee. Congress appointed him, 21 Jan., 1777, secretary to a commission to treat with the Indi- ans at Easton, Pa., and, on 17 April following, secretary to the committee on foreign affairs, which position he held for nearly two years, still publishing in the meantime new numbers of the "Crisis." In the winter of 1778-9, however, he was drawn into a controversy with Silas Deane in connection with tlie money advanced to the Americans by France. Paine maintained that the supplies had been sent as a gift by France, and that Deane was dishonest. He was ordered to appear before congress, and on 8 Jan., 1779, his resignation was accepted. He was now almost without funds, but on 2 Nov. following obtained an appointment as clerk to the Pennsylvania legislature; he served as a medium of communication between Washington at Valley Forge and the legislature, and kept the latter informed of Washington's needs and movements : and it was he that drew up the preamble to the Pennsylvania emancipation act of March, 1780. He suggested a voluntary subscription for the relief of the army, and proved his earnestness by subscribing largely out of his salary. At the end of 1780 he resigned as clerk. Just at this time congress had resolved to