Early Years
Henry was born in Studley, Hanover County, Virginia on May 29, 1736. His father was John Henry, an immigrant from Aberdeenshire, Scotland, who had attended King's College, Aberdeen before emigrating to the Colony of Virginia in the 1720s. Settling in Hanover County, in about 1732 John Henry married Sarah Winston Syme, a wealthy widow from a prominent Hanover County family of English ancestry. Patrick Henry was once thought to have been of humble origins, but he was born into the middle ranks of the Virginia landed gentry.
Henry attended local schools for a few years, and then was tutored by his father. He tried to start in business but was not successful.
Read more about this topic: Patrick Henry
Famous quotes containing the words early and/or years:
“Foolish prater, What dost thou
So early at my window do?
Cruel bird, thoust taen away
A dream out of my arms to-day;
A dream that neer must equalld be
By all that waking eyes may see.
Thou this damage to repair
Nothing half so sweet and fair,
Nothing half so good, canst bring,
Tho men say thou bringst the Spring.”
—Abraham Cowley (16181667)
“For five years I have seen her each day, and each time I believe it is for the first time.”
—Jean Racine (16391699)