Paine, Thomas
author, was born Jan. 29, 1737, in England. He was a celebrated political and deistical writer of English birth who came to America in 1774, and in 1776 issued his famous pamphlet, Common Sense, which was of great service to the American cause. In the American Crisis, published in numbers, 1776-83, he continued his defense of America. His other works include, The Rights of Man, a reply to Burke's Reflections on the French Revolution; and The Age of Reason. He died June 8, 1809, in New York.