Renewed involvement and First Continental Congress (1773–1775) Patrick Henry

19th century engraving of washington (center), henry (right) , pendleton riding philadelphia first continental congress

as washington s estate, mount vernon, lay on way scotchtown philadelphia, invited henry stop there , ride philadelphia him, , henry did, accompanied pendleton, virginia delegate congress , political rival of henry s. delegates , prominent philadelphians took intense interest in virginians, had taken lead in resistance britain, whom few in other colonies had met. henry s first stay in north, excepting brief business trip new york in 1770 found actions known. sessions began on september 5, 1774, @ carpenter s hall. silas deane of connecticut described henry compleatest speaker ever heard ... in letter can give no idea of music of voice, or highwrought, yet natural elegance of stile, or manner . secretary of congress, charles thomson, wrote when henry rose, had expected little man dressed plainly rural minister. proceeded, [he] evinced such [an] unusual force of argument, , such novel , impassioned eloquence electrified whole house. excited inquiry passed man man ... it? it? answer few knew him was, patrick henry.

henry involved in first dispute within congress, on whether each colony should have equal vote, taking position there should proportionate representation, larger colonies have greater voice. argued colonial borders must swept away in need americans unify , create government fill void left end of british authority, fleets , armies , present state of things shew government dissolved. landmarks? boundaries of colonies? distinctions between virginians, pennsylvanians, new yorkers, , new englanders no more. not virginian, american. henry lost argument, , theatrics made congress s leaders afraid unpredictable if placed on lead committee, charged composing statement regarding colonial rights. instead, put on next important committee, 1 inquiring commercial regulation. in end, though, neither committee produced of importance. henry believed purpose of congress should mobilize public opinion towards war. in this, found common cause john adams , samuel adams of massachusetts, not of opinion. according tate, henry turned out not influential member of body . congress decided on petition king; henry prepared 2 drafts neither proved satisfactory. when congress on october 26 approved draft prepared john dickinson of pennsylvania, had consulted henry , richard henry lee, henry had departed home, , lee signed on behalf. petition rejected in london.

after birth of sixth child in 1771, patrick s wife sarah henry began exhibit symptoms of mental illness, , 1 reason move louisa county scotchtown near family members. henry s biographer, jon kukla believed victim of postpartum psychosis, there no treatment. @ times, restrained in form of straitjacket. although virginia had opened first public mental facility in north america in 1773, henry decided better off @ scotchtown, , prepared large apartment there. died in 1775, after henry avoided objects reminded him of her, , sold scotchtown in 1777.