An Important Message

Imagine having an urgent message to deliver before morning. There are no phones, cars, or computers to help you. What would you do?

This responsibility fell onto Paul Revere. He carried important news on horseback. Read his story to discover how a craftsman from Boston used courage and teamwork to help his community during the American Revolution.

Before the Famous Ride

Long before his midnight ride, Paul was a boy growing up in Boston, Massachusetts. He was born on January 1, 1735. In his father’s workshop, he learned to shape metal. With practice, Paul became a silversmith who made useful objects, including spoons and teapots.

Trouble in Boston

As Paul grew older, disagreements with Great Britain grew, too. Britain ruled the colonies, and many colonists opposed its taxes and rules. Paul joined the Sons of Liberty, a group that protested British policies. He used his skills to make political prints and help share news.

A Trusted Messenger

Paul’s work took him beyond his workshop. He became a messenger, carrying important information between communities. In 1773, he carried news of the Boston Tea Party to New York. His neighbors learned that they could count on him to deliver a message. Soon, they would need his help again.

An Urgent Night

On the evening of April 18, 1775, Dr. Joseph Warren sent for Paul. British troops were preparing to leave Boston. Paul needed to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock in Lexington.

There was little time to waste. Paul prepared to travel through the night. Another messenger, William Dawes, took a different route.

Two Lanterns Shine

Paul had helped arrange a signal for friends across the Charles River. One lantern meant the troops would leave Boston by land. Two meant they would cross the river by boat.

That night, two lanterns shone in the Old North Church tower. The signal helped spread the warning, even before Paul reached the other side.

Across the River, Across the Road

Two friends rowed Paul across the river, past a British warship. In Charlestown, he borrowed a horse and began riding.

British officers nearly stopped him, but he escaped along another road. As he traveled toward Lexington, he warned people that troops were on the move. The news spread from house to house.

The Warning Reaches Lexington

Paul reached Lexington after midnight and delivered his message. William Dawes arrived soon afterward.

The two men continued toward Concord. Along the way, Dr. Samuel Prescott joined them. Now three riders were helping spread the alarm. Paul’s famous ride was part of a much larger team effort.

Stopped but the Message Continued

A British patrol stopped the riders before they reached Concord. Paul was captured. Dawes escaped, and Prescott got away and carried the warning to Concord.

The officers later released Paul but kept his horse. He returned toward Lexington on foot. They had stopped one rider, but they had not stopped the warning.

Morning Brings Change

On April 19, 1775, fighting broke out at Lexington and Concord. These battles marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.

Paul and the other messengers had helped local people prepare for the troops’ arrival. Their warning mattered because neighbors worked together and passed the news along.

Paul Remembers

How do we know what happened during Paul’s ride? One clue is a statement he wrote in 1775. This kind of statement is called a deposition.

Paul wrote:

“the Moon shone bright.”

His statement is a primary source because he took part in the events. These words help us picture the night through his eyes.

Source: Paul Revere, Deposition, circa 1775. Original document held by the Massachusetts Historical Society; transcription published by the American Battlefield Trust.