Have some fun scrolling through some interesting images reflecting Paine’s life and the impact of his work!
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 diagram representing the constitution of the United States as proposed by Thomas Paine in Common Sense – Designed by Mathieu Gauthier-PiloteA chart that outlines the constitutional mechanisms of the Constitution Française 1793 (French Constitution of 1793) – WikimediaPaine’s father prevented him from joining this pirate ship at the last minute, saving his life, as the ship called the “Terrible” and led by a man named Captain Death, was sunk on its first voyage. This advertisement was published in the Newcastle Courant on October 9, 1756.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 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.orgAn 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 CopyThe 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 inspired by “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.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 an etching of the machine and an article written by Thomas Paine – King’s Topographical Collection, British LibraryThe Earl of Dartmouth writes a 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. 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 Clerk of the Pennsylvania AssemblyThe 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 FranceB-17F “Tom Paine” of the 388th Bomb Group, RAF Knettishall, England, World War II – National Archives via the United States Air Force Historical Research AgencyThe 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. NavyAn 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 were 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.Cover of Common Sense, the pamphlet, released in January 1776 that ignited the American people to independence from the British Empire and called for a revolutionary representative democracy – Indiana University BloomingtonA plaque marking the way to the tombstone of General John Cadwalader, commander of Pennsylvania troops who personally 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: Dylan accepting an award from the Emergency Civil Liberties Committee: the Tom Paine Award for Civil Rights in December, 1963. Bottom: Paine in his office with the picture of Paine.Camp 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 LibraryA 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.Due to the limitations of early cameras, this is the only known image of American orator Robert G. Ingersoll before an audience with a sign saying in part “Thomas Paine Author Hero of the American Revolution” in the background. From 30 May 1894. – WikipediaThe 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 – Lewes District CouncilThe 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 a leading organizer against the Comstock Act and its enforcement – Thaddeus Wakeman.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 SocietyRededication of the Paine Monument and Assignment of Its Custody to the City of New Rochelle on Saturday, October 14th, 1905 – linkA 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 after the famous book by Thomas 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 ChandlerAn 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 that carried the name “Thomas Paine” since delivery in January 2009. Repainted into standard livery July 2013. – Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company LtdThe ‘Common Sense’ Bicentennial Commerative Set sold by the Medallic Art Company. Included a two-inch limited-edition medal and a facsimile First Edition of the Common Sense pamphlet – New York Public LibraryThomas Paine’s signature. Addressed to “your much obliged fellow citizen”.
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