Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine (1737-1809) was a vigorous defender of and participant in both the American and French Revolutions. His most famous work is <i>Common Sense</i> (1776) which was an early call for the independence of the American colonies from Britain. His other well known work is <i>The Rights of Man</i> (1791) which was a reply to Burke’s critique of the French Revolution.