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| Thomas Paine Obelisk, Angel Square, Islington |
Angel tube as with other tube stations is a popular meeting place.
If you find yourself hanging around waiting for someone may I suggest nipping round the corner to Angel Square as there is a rather interesting obelisk only open during day time.
The obelisk is in tribute to Thomas Paine, one of the founding father of the United States. The obelisk was erected to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the publication of Right's of Man his most famous piece of work "Rights of Man" while lodging at the The Old Red Lion public house on the corner of Rawnstorne Street and St John Street.  |
| The Old Red Lion, St John Street |
The Pub is still there and is now a fabulous little theatre which is well worth a visit. See what's on at the Old Red Lion Theatre. Thomas Paine also lodged at The Angel Inn, Islington when living in London.
Thomas Paine is also known to have lodged at the iconic Angel Inn on the corner of Islington High Street and Pentonville Road. The exterior may still be impressive but the Cooperative Bank which it now houses is less so.
Thomas Paine came from humble beginnings, being born into a Quaker family on 29th January 1737 in Thetford, Norfolk. At 12 yrs of age he failed school and left to become an apprentice to his father. His apprenticeship was complete in seven years after being an adventurous 19yr old went to sea. He soon came to London to seek his fortune where he became an Excise Tax Officer. In 1772 at the age of 31 he published "The Case of the Officers of Excise" arguing a pay rise for officers.
When 37, by happen-stance he met Benjamin Franklin in London who helped him emigrate to Philadelphia by
providing letters of recommendation. At the age of 39, now having moved to Philadelphia, Paine wrote a pamphlet entitled "Common Sense" a strong defence for American Independence from England. In Paine's view the Colonies had all the right to revolt against a government which imposed taxes but didn't give them the right of representation in Parliament, Westminster, London. The publication was a huge success selling 500,000 copies.
The life expectancy then was c.50yrs old. And it was at this age Thomas Paine travelled across the Atlantic and back to London in an attempt to raise funds to build a bridge he had designed. Lodging at The Old Red Lion Pub he wrote his most famous work "Right's of Man", his response to criticism of the French Revolution. This work caused him to become an outlaw in England for his anti-Monarchist views. He escaped arrest by fleeing to France where he joined the National Convention.
Even though a true Republican Paine was imprisoned in France for voting against the execution of Louis XVI. During his imprisonment he wrote and distributed "The Age of Reason". He narrowly escaped execution by returning to America at the invitation of Thomas Jefferson.
Upon his return Paine found that much of his work towards an American Republic had been all but eradicated due to him being accused of being an Atheist. President Roosevelt stated "strong religious minds are not likely to be affected by the atheism of Paine."
Seven years later and Paine is on his deathbed with priests and religious nurses cajoling and threatening him to renounce his anti-Christian ways. He never did. Derided by the public and abandoned by his friends Thomas Paine died 8th June 1809 at the grand old age of 72 in New York City.
The newspapers of the day read "He lived long, did some good, and much harm" but with hindsight perhaps this is an unworthy epitaph?
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Thomas Paine is also known to have lodged at the iconic Angel Inn on the corner of Islington High Street and Pentonville Road. The exterior may still be impressive but the Cooperative Bank which it now houses is less so.
Thomas Paine came from humble beginnings, being born into a Quaker family on 29th January 1737 in Thetford, Norfolk. At 12 yrs of age he failed school and left to become an apprentice to his father. His apprenticeship was complete in seven years after being an adventurous 19yr old went to sea. He soon came to London to seek his fortune where he became an Excise Tax Officer. In 1772 at the age of 31 he published "The Case of the Officers of Excise" arguing a pay rise for officers.
When 37, by happen-stance he met Benjamin Franklin in London who helped him emigrate to Philadelphia by
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| The Angel Inn, Islington High Street |
The life expectancy then was c.50yrs old. And it was at this age Thomas Paine travelled across the Atlantic and back to London in an attempt to raise funds to build a bridge he had designed. Lodging at The Old Red Lion Pub he wrote his most famous work "Right's of Man", his response to criticism of the French Revolution. This work caused him to become an outlaw in England for his anti-Monarchist views. He escaped arrest by fleeing to France where he joined the National Convention.
Even though a true Republican Paine was imprisoned in France for voting against the execution of Louis XVI. During his imprisonment he wrote and distributed "The Age of Reason". He narrowly escaped execution by returning to America at the invitation of Thomas Jefferson.
Upon his return Paine found that much of his work towards an American Republic had been all but eradicated due to him being accused of being an Atheist. President Roosevelt stated "strong religious minds are not likely to be affected by the atheism of Paine."
Seven years later and Paine is on his deathbed with priests and religious nurses cajoling and threatening him to renounce his anti-Christian ways. He never did. Derided by the public and abandoned by his friends Thomas Paine died 8th June 1809 at the grand old age of 72 in New York City.
The newspapers of the day read "He lived long, did some good, and much harm" but with hindsight perhaps this is an unworthy epitaph?
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