Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/83

 REVERE

REX

owner of the Dartmouth, and of two other ships, that the cargo would be sent back to Esigland. Governor Hutchinson upset this peaceful solution by refusing the ships clearance papers, and after a meeting held at the Old South Meeting house, Dec. 16, 1773. a baud of men disguised as Indians, and led by Paul Revere, boarded the ships, and destroyed three hundred and forty -two chests of tea. He was sent to enlist the support of the southern provinces; carried the "Suffolk Re- solves" to the Continental congress at Phila- delphia, and carried to Portsmouth, N.H., the message that Parliament had forbidden the further importation of gunpowder and military stores. Acting on this intelligence, the " Sons of Liberty " surprised the fort and removed over one hundred barrels of gunpowder and fifteen cannon, Dec. 14, 1774. On April 18, 1775, Dr. Joseph "Warren learned that troops were gather- ing on Boston Common, and confided to Revere his fears for the safety of John Hancock and Samuel Adams, who were at Lexington, and for whose cap- ture and that of the stores at Concord he believed the expedi- tion organized. Re- vere at once volun- teered to warn the patriots. Arrange- ments were made with Robert New- man, sexton of the North church, for the displaying of ,_|^ two lights from the ® ^^ ' belfry, if the troops

departed by water, and of one if by land. He was rowed across the Charles river and arrived safely in Charlestown, where he waited until two signal lights shone out from the belfry. He procured a horse and started for Lexington by way of Med- ford, alarming the minute men along the route. He delivered his message to Hancock and Adams at the home of the Rev. Jonas Clark, and was joined by William Dawes and Samuel Prescott. When about half way to Concord, Revere and Dawes were captured by British scouts, but in .the excitement that followed they were released, Prescott managing to escape and to give timely warning at Concord. On April 20, 1775, Revere was employed as a trusted messenger for the committee of safety. He repaired the cannon at Castle William that had been broken by the British; and in July, 1776, he was commissioned major of a regiment raised for town and harbor defence, and lieutenant-colonel, Nov. 27, 1776. He was a member of the unsuccessful expedition

to Castine, Maine, under Gen. Solomon Lovel, June 26, 1779, and after the war he resumed his trade in Boston, and established a foundry for casting church-bells and bronze cannon. He en- graved and printed the first notes issued by congress and by the Commonwealth of Mass- achusetts. He inaugurated the method of rolling copper into large sheets, at Canton, Mass., and made the plates for frigate Constitution, and for Robert Fulton's steamboats. He assisted Gover- nor Samuel Adams in laying the cornerstone of the Massachusetts state house, July 4, 1795, and was a founder of the Charitable Mechanics as- sociation in 1795, and its first president, 1795-99. He was twice married; first, Aug. 17, 1737, to Sarah Orne, and secondly, Nov. 10, 1773, to Rachel Walker, both of Boston. He died in Boston, Mass., May 10, 1818, and was buried in the Granary burial ground.

REVERE, Paul Joseph, soldier, was born in Boston, Mass., Sept. 10, 1832; son of Joseph War- ren and Mary (Robbins) Revere, and grandson of Col. Paul and Rachel (Walker) Revere and of Edward Hutchinson and Elizabeth (Murray) Robbins. He was graduated at Harvard in 1852; engaged in mercantile pursuits, made trips into the mountain and lake regions, had the care of an extensive wharf in Boston, and defended the cause of laborers and women and children. He was married in 1859 to Lucretia W^atson, daughter of the Rev. Dr. W. P. Lunt. He was commis- sioned major of the 20th Massachusetts volunteers, July 1, 1861; was wounded and taken prisoner at tlie' battle of Ball's Bluff, Oct. 21, 1861, and with his brother, Dr. E. H. R. Revere, was confined in Henrico county prison from November, 1861, to February, 1862, and held with six others as hostages for a number of Confederate privateers under sentence of death by the U.S. court. He was paroled, Feb. 22, 1862, exchanged in May, 1862, and served in the Peninsular campaign until August, 1862, when he was granted sick leave. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel, and appointed assistant inspector-general on the staff of Gen. Edwin V. Sumner, Sept. 4, 1862; was severely wounded at the battle of Antietam, and was an invalid at home until April 14, 1863, when he was promoted colonel of the 20th Massachusetts vol- unteers. He received a mortal wound at Gettys- burg, July 2, 1863, and was brevetted brigadier- general of volunteers for his bravery in that battle. He died at Westminster, July 4, 1863.

REX, Charles D., educator, was born in Bal- timore, Md., in 1856. He matriculated at St. Charles college, Ellicott city, Md.. Sept. 11, 1871, was graduated in December. 1876. and was a student at St. Mary's seminary, Baltimore, Md., 1876-78. He also studied theology at the semi- nary of St. Sulpice, Paris, France, 1878-80, where