american leaders library

American civil leaders, such as Patrick Henry and Paul Revere, played important roles in the fight to gain independence. This section contains information about some of the people involved in the birth of the new country.

Featured Article: John Barry

Barry, John (1745–1803), a United States naval officer. After John Paul Jones, he was the greatest naval hero of the American Revolution. See more »

Articles 101-110 of 110

Thomas Paine

Paine, Thomas (1737–1809), an Anglo-American political writer and philosopher. Paine's writings helped turn American opinion to the cause of independence during the Revolutionary War.

Thomas Stone

Stone, Thomas (1743–1787), a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Stone was a member of the Continental Congress, 1775–78, and helped to frame the Articles of Confederation.

Thomas Sumter

Sumter, Thomas (1734–1832), an American military leader and statesman. Sumter, known as the “Carolina Gamecock” for his courage and fighting spirit, distinguished himself as a brigadier general of South Carolina militia during the Revolutionary War.

William Alexander

Alexander, William (1726–1783), an American Revolutionary War general. He was also known as Lord Stirling, a title he assumed in 1761, although his claim to the earldom of Stirling was later disapproved by the British House of Lords.

William Few Jr.

Few, William, Jr. (1748–1828), a United States statesman and banker. He was a signer of the U.S.

William Hooper

Hooper, William (1742–1790), a Revolutionary War patriot and signer of the Declaration of Independence.

William Moultrie

Moultrie William (1730–1805), a United States army officer. His defense of a fort in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, against a British fleet of 10 ships in 1776 made him a Revolutionary War hero, and the fort was renamed in his honor.