Saving Paine’s Grammar School
In April 2026, the Thetford Grammar School, where Thomas Paine was a pupil from 1744 to 1749, announced its closure effective August 31, 2026.
Poison Pens: Turning the Corner from Damnation to Praise
The TPHA Cartoon collection offers viewers a vivid journey of how Paine’s public image has morphed over the last 250 years. Although there were some positive portrayals of Paine early on, his many enemies, both in Britain and America, eventually took aim at him with vitriolic, often violent imagery, seeking to defame him and attack
Poison Pens: Turning the Corner from Damnation to Praise Read Post »
The Paradox of NYC’s Thomas Paine Park in Foley Square
Foley Square now wears the name of a corrupt politician while Paine Park has a lightpost marker with no statue of the great man. New York should recognize Paine’s achievements and give him the place of honor at Civic Center, even at the risk of insulting “Big Tom.”
The Paradox of NYC’s Thomas Paine Park in Foley Square Read Post »
Thomas Paine and the Iroquois Democracy
After personal encounters with the Iroquois, Paine sought to learn their language. For the rest of his political and writing career Paine cited them as a model for how a society might be organized. Iroquois influences are noticeable in many of Paine’s ideas.
Thomas Paine’s Iron Bridge Design Spans the Start of the Industrial Revolution
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 »
Thomas Paine and Mary Lambert Marriage Review
The fact that Mary Lambert was a serving maid was not the real reason that her marriage with Thomas Paine, the great Anglo-American free thinker, was not successful.