Today marks the 200th anniversary of the death of Thomas Paine, a man who rallied the American people in the fight for independence from Britain, denounced political corruption and defended “free and rational inquiry” in the face of organized religion. He famously wrote, “The world is my country. All mankind are my brethren. To do good is my religion.”

So who was Thomas Paine? Check out the BBC’s article to get acquainted with the man.

BBC:

“Possibly the most influential writer in modern human history” — that’s the billing Thomas Paine got from one of his biographers.

Paine was an international bestseller long before the days of Dan Brown or Jackie Collins and is the only Brit to have been quoted in Barack Obama’s inauguration speech earlier this year.

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You can also read “Common Sense,” Paine’s famous revolutionary pamphlet, published in 1776, here.

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#american revolution#common sense#History#thomas paine