Paine’s deep relationship with the Bonnevilles lasted for more than 15 years. This essay studies Paine’s time with the Bonnevilles in Paris during the six years he lived with them, from 1797 to 1802, as Napoleon Bonaparte began his ascent to power and U.S.-France relationships floundered.
The Bonnevilles: Thomas Paine’s “Family” Part One: Read Post »
In Paine’s view, organized religions marketed unreliable hearsay piled on hearsay as “revelations” that are, by definition, based on faith rather than evidence. Carefully observing nature, he rejected nearly everything propounded by organized religions as antithetical to rational analysis, retaining from Biblical accounts only what was discernable through observation.
The Mysteries of Paine’s Beliefs in Providence Read Post »
Paine believed in Enlightenment ideals about science. Fascinated by new technologies, Paine tried his hand at designing bridges. He’d change the world by connecting it together. As he wrote, “We have it in our power to begin the world over again.”
Thomas Paine’s Iron Bridge Design Spans the Start of the Industrial Revolution Read Post »
The failure to recognise the contribution of Burdon to the development of Sunderland and the North-East and the expansion of the application of iron, apart from the production of a beautiful bridge, is made worse in a way by the fact that Burdon’s sole excursions from his enforced retirement after 1803.
The Second Iron Bridge Read Post »
In point of elegance and beauty it far exceeded my expectations and is certainly beyond anything I ever saw. My model and myself had may visitors while I was at the works.
Some Of The Letters Paine Wrote To Jefferson During 1788–1789 Concerning The Iron Bridge Read Post »
Reactions to Paine have coloured the understanding and appreciation of him, and he has been recognised as primarily a political or religious figure, but there is an important feature of his work which has long been neglected, his interest in science.
Science And Thomas Paine Read Post »
The impressions we have of fighting in the American War of Independence are largely gathered from romanticised films made in Hollywood. However, the times of Thomas Paine are more remote and perspective often focuses more accurately on individuals and events.
Thomas Paine and the Care Of The Continental Army Read Post »
Paine’s fame as a writer on social, political and religious themes plus his controversial activities, has tended to obscure his passionate interest in scientific matters. Paine was perhaps the first person to recognise the critical implications of the growing stream of scientific discoveries.
“The Natural Bent Of My Mind Was To Science” Read Post »
Thomas Paine had minimal experience at the eyepiece of a telescope and he showed no inclination later in his life to pursue astronomical studies. But in The Age of Reason he shows he had gained a very clear understanding of the solar system from those early days in London.
Thomas Paine’s Astronomy Read Post »
Paine’s project was more appreciative of the potentialities of iron than either the Coaibrookdale Iron Bridge, based as it was on principles of wood construction, or Burden’s bridge, which, it was agreed by all observers, was based on the principles of stone construction.
THE SECOND IRON BRIDGE Read Post »
