Have some fun scrolling through some interesting images reflecting Paine’s life and the impact of his work! This assortment of images is a gateway into the legacy of the founder of modern democracy. Click on any image to enlarge.
Thetford’s town sign portrays two personalities including the murderous King Sweine or Sweyn, otherwise known as Forkbeard, and Thomas Paine, who was born in Thetford, on the other side – National Museum of the U.S. NavyA chart that outlines the constitutional mechanisms of the Constitution Française 1793 (French Constitution of 1793). Paine was one of the nine drafters of its sweeping plans for democratization and wealth redistribution that were unfortunately never implemented – WikimediaThis advertisement was published in the Newcastle Courant on October 9, 1756. Paine’s father prevented him from joining this pirate ship at the last minute, saving his life, as the ship called the “Terrible”, led by a man named Captain Death, was nearly destroyed on its first voyage with most crew killed including Captain Death.Hired by printer Robert Aitken, Paine was the editor and a major contributor to The Pennsylvania Magazine, or American Monthly Museum, a significant colonial publication from 1775-1776, where he published revolutionary essays, scientific articles, and poetry – Library of CongressAn inscription on Roger Sherman’s draft copy of the Declaration of Independence that potentially demonstrates Thomas Paine’s direct influence and involvement in its creation. The inscription reads, “A beginning, perhaps—original with Jefferson—copied from the original with T.P.’s permission” – Read our article on the Sherman CopyThomas Paine’s writing table where he wrote Rights of Man (Part Two) and A Letter to the Addressers in 1792. At the time, he was staying at the home of his friend Thomas Clio Rickman at number 7 Upper Marylebone Street, London. The table is part of the collection of Thomas Paine artifacts at the People’s History Museum in Manchester, England – Ordinary PhilosophyAn article in the Pennsylvania Evening Post by Paine where he discusses the need for American independence from the British Empire. The letter is signed ‘Republicus’ one of the many aliases used by Paine – Archive.orgThe first Wearmouth Bridge was a bridge across the River Wear in Sunderland, England and the second major bridge to be made from cast iron. Paine patented the bridge design here after being inspired by strength of “the figure of a spider’s circular web” – King’s Topographical Collection, British LibraryDunlap’s Creek Bridge is the first arch bridge in the United States built of cast iron, constructed in 1839. It still stands in 2025 and was built applying principles advocated by Paine – Library of CongressWhile writing Common Sense, Paine addressed a shortage of US gunpowder during the start of the revolution. He and a colleague conducted experiments on how families could make gunpowder from commonly available materials, with the results being printed in newspapers across the colonies.One of Paine’s scientific interests, which probably followed from his research into the manufacture of saltpeter, was testing the explosive power of gunpowder harnessed to an engine designed to drive paddles on a boat. This ‘internal combustion engine’ was not a success but represents Paine’s contribution to engine development in the early Industrial Revolution.Invented by Arthur Donaldson in 1773, this historical dredging machine was described in detail in the May 1775 edition of The Pennsylvania Magazine, which featured this etching of the machine and an article written by Thomas Paine – King’s Topographical Collection, British LibraryThe Earl of Dartmouth wrote this letter to the King of England complaining about Paine’s ‘The Crisis‘. He says in part, “I have the honor to inclose to your Lordship two Publications circulated by the Rebels. One of them, the Crisis, is written by a Mr. Paine, who was brought over hither, some years ago, by Dr. [Benjamin] Franklin, and has been chiefly employed by him, in one Pursuit or another, eversince. He was a Grub-street Writer in London, when he fell into the Doctor’s Way, and, by falling into his Principles, was enabled by him to emerge from Obscurity, and to meet with considerable Attentions in this Country. He has nothing to lose, and everything to hope, from the Establishment of the present rebellions System”.A 1780 order signed by Paine while he was employed as Clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly.A record of the December 18, 1792 trial in-absentia at the Court of King’s Bench that accused Paine of seditious libel due to the criticism of the king contained in Rights of Man Part II. Despite a valiant defense by Thomas Erskine, who argued for freedom of the press, the jury reached a swift guilty verdict. In summer of 1792, Paine answered the sedition and libel charges by saying, “If, to expose the fraud and imposition of monarchy … to promote universal peace, civilization, and commerce, and to break the chains of political superstition, and raise degraded man to his proper rank; — if these things be libellous, let me live the life of a Libeller, and let the name of LIBELLER be engraven on my tomb” – The Ohio State UniversityThe Constitution Française 1793 (French Constitution of 1793) was the second constitution ratified for use during the French Revolution under the First Republic. Paine was one of the nine drafters of its sweeping plans for democratization and wealth redistribution that were unfortunately never implemented – National Library of FranceThe London Corresponding Society’s 1794 letter to the members of the French Revolution’s Committee of Public Safety appealing to the committee and its unofficial leader Maximilien Robespierre to release Paine from prison – American Philosophical Society1875 lithograph by J.H. Bufford’s Sons of the Paine Memorial Building that was also the home of the liberal Boston Investigator newspaper. It was built in commemoration of Thomas Paine by San Francisco millionaire, James Lick. The building burned down on January 9, 1940 – Boston Public LibraryBust of Thomas Paine looking out from Library Hall of the American Philosophical Society. Paine was a member of the APS for a brief period where he had many contacts including his closest friend and ally of 30 years, Benjamin Franklin – Wikimedia CommonsThe SS Thomas Paine was a 10,000-ton freighter, part of an armada that was mass produced for the American ‘Liberty Ship’ intiative to deliver arms and vital food supplies to the war front during World War II. This scene is Los Angeles, California, and the vessels include, (left to right), SS John C. Fremont, SS Thomas Paine and the SS Benjamin Franklin – National Museum of the U.S. NavyAirmen of the 388th Bomb Group climb aboard their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30793) nicknamed “Tom Paine” before a mission – Wikimedia CommonsAn 1826 sketch by Charlotte Bonaparte purporting to show a poplar tree planted by Thomas Paine near Bordentown, New Jersey where Paine bought a house in 1783 – The Metropolitan Museum of ArtGrave of Thomas Ollive and his sister Elizabeth Paine, Thomas Paine’s second wife, who Paine married in March 1771. Eventually, Paine was forced into bankruptcy in 1774 and Elizabeth and Paine separated in June partly due to Paine’s long absences stemming from his work as an exciseman. Elizabeth died in Cranbrook on 17 July, 1808, and lies buried in the churchyard of St. Dunstan’s – Image from Thomas Paine Society UK Bulletin, 1999. Vol.4. No.2.The TPNHA Board (now TPHA) from 1894, standing in front of the Paine Monument on North Avenue in New Rochelle, NY. On the right is Thaddeus Wakeman, a freethinker, professor, and noted philosopher, who took the lead in the creation of TPNHA. Also in the picture, in the rear wearing a hat, is Wilson MacDonald, the sculptor of the Paine bust on top of the Monument.Spanish edition of Paine’s ‘Rights of Man’ published in 1821 by Carey Filadelfia – Harvard UniversityA plaque marking the way to the tombstone of General John Cadwalader, the American Revolutionary commander of Pennsylvania troops who served at the battles of Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth. As the plaque indicates, his glowing epitaph was written by Thomas Paine, which reads in part, “His early and inflexible patriotism will endear his memory to all true friends of the American Revolution. It may with strictest justice be said of him, that he possessed a heart incapable of deceiving. His manners were formed on the nicest sense of honor and the whole tenor of his life was governed by this principle” – King’s Topographical Collection, British LibraryTop: American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan accepting the Tom Paine Award for Civil Rights from the Emergency Civil Liberties Committee in December, 1963. Bottom: Dylan in his office with the picture of Paine.A theatrical poster for a Paul Foster play “Tom Paine” performed by La Mama troupe at Stage 73 in New York – American Philosophical SocietyActor Ian Ruskin portrays Paine in his play, “To Begin the World Over Again: the Life of Thomas Paine” – Ruskin ProductionsThomas Alva Edison’s letter to American photojournalist William Manley Van Der Weyde from 1921. Edison writes “The truth sometimes takes centuries to come forth, but it always does come forth. Paine was one of the greatest men of all time” – American Philosophical SocietyCamp Thomas Paine was a Squatters Colony, a “Hooverville” shantytown, in New York City during the Great Depression located in Riverside Park of Manhattan along the Hudson River. This camp was specifically for World War I veterans and was photographed by Percy Loomis Sperr – New York Public LibraryDue to the limitations of early cameras, this is the only known image of American orator Robert G. Ingersoll before an audience on May 30th, 1894. Behind him is a sign saying in part “Thomas Paine Author Hero of the American Revolution” – WikipediaA January 12, 1987 letter was sent from President Ronald Reagan to the Thomas Paine National Historical Association on the 250th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Paine.The Thetford River Trails Gold Route guides visitors on a path around the town that includes multiple Paine related locations including a gold statue of Paine, the site of the quaker meeting house where Paine’s father would have attended, the Thomas Paine Hotel, and the Thetford Library that has a collection of his works – Thetford Town CouncilThe Tom Paine Trail guides visitors to various sights around Lewes, England many of which are related to Paine’s life in Lewes – Lewes District CouncilThe Paine to Pain Trail Half-Marathon is a “single loop through the woods and trails of five parks in Westchester County. It starts and ends in New Rochelle, New York.” The marathon’s staging area is at New Rochelle’s Thomas Paine Cottage – Paine to Pain Trail Half-MarathonIn 2015, the Colonial Greenway trail through Westchester County added the “Paine Bridge” to provide a crossing over the Sheldrake River in the Town of Mamaroneck – The Larchmont LoupThe Comstock Act of 1873 for the “Suppression of Trade in, and Circulation of, Obscene Literature and Articles of Immoral Use” was used to target freethinkers, anti-religious organizations, free speech advocates, and women’s rights groups. Many were arrested and jailed under the Comstock Act. It was in the wake of this political struggle that TPNHA was formed and led by its leading organizer Thaddeus Wakeman to take a stand against the Comstock Act and its enforcement.Douglas Cooper, a distinguished New Rochelle lawyer who served for 10 years as the President of the Thomas Paine Historical Association stands at the Paine Cottage – Westchester County Historical SocietyA rededication ceremony for the Paine Monument and assignment of its custody to the City of New Rochelle on Saturday, October 14th, 1905. New Rochelle Mayor, the Honorable Henry S. Clark (mayor from 1902 to 1907) accepted the Monument in behalf of the City of New Rochelle – Photo by James B. ElliottA wax figure of Paine at the Thomas Paine Cottage in New Rochelle, N.Y. – American Philosophical SocietyThe Rights of Man, a pub at 179 High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, named in honor of the famous book by Paine, a former Lewes resident – WikipediaThe Thomas Paine Hotel and Restaurant built on the site of Thomas Paine’s birthplace in Thetford, UK – Photo by Graham ChandlerA mural at the Thomas Paine Hotel in Thetford, UK – Image courtesy of the Thomas Paine HotelAn effigy of Paine created by the artist ‘Polyp’ in the style of those burned in 1800s England- linkThomas Paine Ltd was a large varied haulage business in London during the 1960s – Truck Net UKBrighton and Hove, UK had a 710 Scania Omnicity bus that carried the name “Thomas Paine” since delivery in January 2009. It was repainted into standard livery on July 2013. – Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company LtdThe ‘Tom Paine’ beer is from Harvey’s Brewery, the oldest independent brewery in Sussex, UK. It is advertised as “a dry hopped, robust pale ale with a full, malty palate. Strong and well balanced, with hints of impending revolution” – Harvey’s BreweryA full-length sculpture of Thomas Paine shows him wearing a military uniform with an inscription on base of statue in French – Library of CongressThe Thomas Paine Portrait Paperweight was created in 1955 by Baccarat, a French luxury house and manufacturer of fine crystal, as a limited edition collectible. It is made of made of high-quality crystal – American History MuseumA road named Thomas Paine Place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Photo by J. J. PratsThe ‘Common Sense’ Bicentennial Commerative Set sold by the Medallic Art Company. It included a two-inch limited-edition medal and a facsimile First Edition of the Common Sense pamphlet – New York Public LibraryThomas Paine’s signature. It is addressed with the message being from “your much obliged fellow citizen”.
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