Dr. James Wigton's Blog

As we celebrate America this week, we remember many great Americans who helped found our nation. One of them was Patrick Henry. He is famous for his public proclamation, “Give me liberty, or give me death!”

Patrick Henry was a remarkable public servant. He was a delegate to the First Continental Congress. He was commander-in-chief of the Virginia state militia during the Revolutionary War. He was a delegate to the Second Continental Congress. Patrick Henry authored much of the Virginia state constitution, and our national Bill of Rights. He was elected governor of Virginia four consecutive terms. When he chose to retire, they elected him a 5th time. But he insisted that it was time for him to retire.

Patrick Henry was a devout Christian. When a Baptist preacher was arrested for preaching without the authorization of the state church in Virginia in those days, he said, “Great God, gentlemen, a man in prison for preaching the Gospel of the Son of God!” He said that it could not be emphasized too greatly that the United States of America was founded not by religionists, but by Christians — not based on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ! In his last will and testament, Patrick Henry left all that he had to his children. And then he said that he wished he could leave them faith in Jesus Christ, because if you have everything else, and have not Christ, you have nothing!

What a great man was Patrick Henry.