Lecture: That Spark of Liberty

That Spark of Liberty: Robert Treat Paine and America's DNA presented by Tom Paine

Public historian and landscape architect Tom Paine will bring to life the remarkable story of Robert Treat Paine, America’s Founding Father from Taunton. He will delve into the family stories that were passed down to Paine and inspired him, and touch on descendants of the Civil War Generation whom he inspired in turn. To focus only on Paine’s best known accomplishment, signing the Declaration of Independence hardly does justice to less heralded accomplishments from his years as the first Attorney of Massachusetts, including his roles in crafting the world’s oldest modern Constitution, and the abolition of slavery in Massachusetts. The talk will show how Paine’s distinctive traits of character provide a compelling example of what Tom calls America’s DNA.

 Tom is a sixth-generation descendant of Robert Treat Paine.

This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served at 6:30 pm with the talk to begin at 7 pm.