1768 portrait of Revere by John Singleton Copley
"The British are coming! The British are coming!"
— Paul Revere's famous warning to his fellow Patriots... which he never actually said.note
Paul Revere (January 1, 1735 – May 10, 1818) was an American silversmith, engraver, early industrialist, Sons of Liberty member, and Patriot during The American Revolution.
He was married to Sarah Orne and Rachel Walker and had 16 children, 8 with Orne and 8 with Walker.
Revere is best known for the Midnight Ride, though he wasn't the only rider that night and he didn't actually reach his destination.
Paul Revere in media
Live-Action Television
- Sleepy Hollow: He is played by Dustin Lewis.
- Sons of Liberty: He is played by Michael Raymond-James.
- The West Wing: Jed Bartlet, who's a descendant of the founding father Josiah Bartlett, owns an heirloom carving knife that was smithed by Revere.
Literature
- Revere appears as a Historical Domain Character in Johnny Tremain.
- Mr. Revere and I, a children's novel about Paul Revere's horse.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow famously commemorated the Midnight Ride – albeit with, let's say, a few embellishments and a few omissions regarding others who were involved – in his 1860 poem "Paul Revere's Ride".
Music
- Paul Revere and the Raiders (naturally) did a rock and roll version of Longfellow's poem ("Midnite Ride") early in their career.
- Weezer wrote a song ("The British Are Coming") about his famous quote.
Recorded and Stand-Up Comedy
- Stan Freberg Presents the United States of America has a short bit where Revere, in the middle of the Midnight Ride, encounters one annoyed townswoman who thinks he's a Traveling Salesman selling pots and pans.
Video Games
- Assassin's Creed III: Revere appears in the game, as his ride to warn the colonial militia is shown and was voiced by Bruce Dinsmore.
Western Animation
- Aqua Teen Hunger Force: In the Banned Episode, "Boston", the Aqua Teens encounter Paul Revere's ghost who offers a partnership with them and Thomas Edison for their rich scheme.
- Futurama: During a trip to the past, Fry removes one of the lanterns before Revere sees it, which turns the Midnight Ride into a story of failure. In the changed future, Revere is known as an idiot who delivered the wrong message and caused the Revolution to fail.
- Liberty's Kids: He was voiced by Sylvester Stallone and depicted the famous Midnight Ride.
- The Merrie Melodies short "Old Glory" has Uncle Sam relating the story of the Midnight Ride to Porky Pig.
- The Schoolhouse Rock! short "The Shot Heard 'Round the World" opens with Revere on his horse making his fabled "The British Are Coming!" announcement. He's also mentioned in the first line of the song (Now, the ride of Paul Revere / Set the nation on its ear...).
