Born Jan 29, 1737.
Friend and adviser of Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Monroe, etc., etc.
Author of Common Sense, The Crisis, Rights of Man, and The Age of Reason;
Editor of Pennsylvania Magazine;
Enlisted in Continental Army; appointed Aide-de-Camp to General Nathaniel Greene;
Secretary of Committee on Foreign Affairs, Congress and Pennsylvania Assembly;
By his writings did more for the American cause in the Revolution than any other one person;
First proposed American Independence;
First suggested the Federal Union of States;
First proposed the abolition of Negro slavery;
First suggested protection for dumb animals;
First proposed arbitration and international peace;
First suggested justice to women;
First pointed out the reality of human brotherhood;
First pointed out the folly of hereditary succession and monarchical government;
First proposed old-age pensions;
First suggested international copyright;
First proposed the education of the children of the poor at public expense;
First suggested a great republic of all the nations of the world;
First proposed "the land for the people";
First suggested "the religion of humanity";
First proposed and first wrote the words, "United States of America";
Founder of the first Ethical Society;
Proposed the purchase of the Louisiana Territory;
Inventor of the iron bridge, the hollow candle—principle of the modern central-draft burner, etc., etc.
Died June 9, 1809.
This is history. But this great and good man was called "a filthy little atheist" by a hyphenated Dutch-American.