Thomas Paine (1737-1809) who was born in England. In 1774 he immigrated to America, where he wrote (1776) the successful pamphlet Common Sense. During the American Revolution he began a series of 16 pamphlets (1776-83), The Crisis. In The Rights of Man (two parts, 1791, 1792), written in England, he defended the French Revolution. He escaped when he was going to be tried for treason in England. He went to Paris, where he became a member of the National Convention and was imprisoned during the Reign of Terror. He returned to the U.S. in 1802.

His writings helped influence many undecided to join the American cause in the colonies.