Discover the Unexpected: Top 14 Fun and Fascinating Facts About Paul Revere!

1. Paul Revere: Dentist & Forensic Pioneer

Before becoming a midnight rider and perhaps an uncredited inspiration for dentists worldwide, Paul Revere was tooth fairy’s unsung sidekick: He crafted artificial teeth made from ivory or animal teeth and fixed them so well that they served as both an ornament and a functional aid for speaking and eating. Not only did this venture in dentistry save his wallet during tough times, but it also played a crucial role in identifying his dear friend Dr. Joseph Warren's body through a walrus tooth implant, thus marking the inception of forensic dentistry in America.
Source => newenglandhistoricalsociety.com

2. Equitable Family Planning: 16 Kids, 2 Wives

Whoever said "go big or go home" was definitely not talking about Paul Revere's family planning skills: Despite having 16 children, these were split between two wives - Sarah with 8 and Rachel with another 8 - over a 29-year period, proving that our historical friend Paul was quite the equitable chap when it came to procreation.
Source => paulreverehouse.org

💌 Did you know John and Abigail Adams exchanged passionate love letters during the Revolutionary era? Discover their adorable romance and its historical significance!

=> Fun Facts about John-Adams

3. Revere: Silversmith, Spy, & Silver Heist Expert

Before he was galloping through the night, shouting "the British are coming," Paul Revere was a Renaissance man of sorts, dabbling in a little espionage, spy craft, and the occasional silver heist: As a skilled Boston silversmith, Revere was also a member of the Mechanics, a secret organization of artisans who specialized in surveillance, signaling warnings, and intelligence gathering, using their unique skills to outsmart the British during the Revolutionary War.
Source => army.mil

4. Revolutionary Ride-Share: Revere's Backup Riders

Midnight Riders: More Like a Revolutionary Ride-Share! Paul Revere wasn't the lone ranger on his famous midnight ride; in fact, he was accompanied by two fellow patriots, William Dawes and Dr. Samuel Prescott: The trio set out to warn the countryside about the approaching British troops, but it was only Prescott who successfully completed the mission, while Dawes got caught and Revere etched his name in the annals of history with his legendary ride.
Source => bostonteapartyship.com

5. Lantern Signal Mix-Up: Not Just for Revere

Call off the Lone Ranger: Paul Revere had company on horseback that fateful night in 1775! Not only did several riders join him to warn of the approaching British army, but the iconic lantern signal – "One if by land, and two if by sea" – wasn't even meant for his eyes. Instead, Revere and his equine entourage had things all figured out, relying on a network of riders to spread the word whether the British arrived via land or water.
Source => nps.gov

6. Revere's Designer Skills Save the Day

Little did Paul Revere know, his side-gig as an 18th-century interior designer specializing in lantern-based communication systems would come in handy during a time of civil unrest: Revere's genius in placing two lanterns in Boston's Christ Church warned Patriots of the British raid in Concord, setting the stage for a monumental American Revolution moment, and one of the original lanterns remains on display as a testament to his unique brand of revolutionary flair.
Source => concordmuseum.org

7. Silversmith Revere Goes Copper Crazy

Who knew Paul Revere had a silver spoon in his mouth - and other metals too: As a talented silversmith, Revere not only dabbled in various industries but also financed his ventures in iron casting, bronze bell and cannon casting, and forging copper bolts and spikes, ultimately becoming the first American to successfully roll copper into sheets for naval vessels back in 1800.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. The Unsung Heroes: Dawes & Prescott

Who needs the Lone Ranger when you've got the Revere Trio: Paul Revere, famous for his midnight dash, actually had two trusty sidekicks – William Dawes and Dr. Samuel Prescott – who rode alongside him, alerting the colonies about the British invasion and significantly impacting the course of the American Revolution.
Source => battlefields.org

9. William Dawes: Forgotten Midnight Rider

When Paul Revere shouted, "The British are coming!" was there an echo, or did William Dawes just not get the same PR agent as Revere?: In reality, Dawes embarked on the same midnight ride as Revere to warn patriots of the British troops' arrival, setting out an hour before Revere and even evading capture by the sentries. Sadly, fame favored one rider and Dawes took a backseat in the annals of history.
Source => history.com

10. Revere's Pivotal Portsmouth Powder Alarm

Before Paul Revere became famous for his midnight ride and inspiring Led Zeppelin to write their hit “Immigrant Song” (ok, maybe not, but we like to imagine it anyway): Paul Revere played a key role in the Portsmouth Powder Alarm on December 13, 1774, riding from Boston to warn locals in Portsmouth of the British's intention to seize gunpowder and weapons at Fort William and Mary, sparking an early and pivotal spark of the American Revolution.
Source => seacoastonline.com

11. Midnight "Telephone" Game on Horseback

While Paul Revere's midnight ride might bring to mind an all-American twist on the classic game of "telephone," this historical infographic was actually more of a group chat on horseback: Contrary to popular belief, there were three riders – Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott – who spread the word of the British invasion before the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Alas, it was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem "Paul Revere's Ride" that stole the spotlight and made our equestrian hero the poster child for American patriotism.
Source => bostonteapartyship.com

12. Rachel Revere: The Original Mrs. Smith

Forget about Paul, meet the Original Mrs. Smith: Rachel Walker Revere, Paul's second wife and covert American Revolution superhero! With her household running skills sharper than a British bayonet, Rachel guarded the home front, raising the kids and keeping everything afloat while Paul galloped about on horseback: The bread and backbone of their 40-year marriage, Rachel played a key role in the Patriot's cause, keeping the family safe amidst war and chaos, even demonstrating her crisis negotiation skills with British officers during the Siege of Boston.
Source => masshist.org

13. Master of Metals: Revere's Copper Legacy

Who knew Paul Revere was not only a midnight rider but a master of metals too? Horsepower, meet copper power: In 1801, our midnight man opened the first copper rolling mill in the U.S., not only revolutionizing ship production by replacing corrosive iron fixtures with rustproof copper but also designing the copper dome for the Massachusetts State House and New York City Hall. Talk about a founding father of ingenuity!
Source => paul-revere-heritage.com

14. Revere: From Witty Pottery to Dental Artistry

Before he mounted his high horse and galloped into history as a midnight rider, Paul Revere was making mouths grin with more than just witty pottery cartoons: In a lesser-known career, Revere was an accomplished dentist, crafting intricate sets of false teeth from walrus ivory, animal teeth, and even experimenting with human teeth for replacements, although the latter practice didn't exactly become a 'toothsensation'.
Source => masshist.org