Character guide

Edmund Burke

major

Also known as Burke, Mr. Burke

British statesman and author attacked by Paine for his critique of the French Revolution.

Thomas Paine

major

Also known as Paine, Mr. Paine

Author of The Rights of Man, defending the French Revolution against Burke.

William Pitt

supporting

Also known as Pitt, Mr. Pitt

British Prime Minister criticized by Paine for his policies.

Marquis de La Fayette

supporting

Also known as M. de la Fayette, de la Fayette, Lafayette

French aristocrat and military officer who fought in the American Revolution.

Charles Calonne

minor

Also known as M. Calonne, Calonne

French finance minister under Louis XVI, blamed for financial crisis.

George Washington

minor

Also known as General Washington, Washington

American general and first president, praised by Paine.

William the Conqueror

minor

Also known as William, the Conqueror

Norman king of England, cited as an example of conquest-based rule.

Jacques Necker

minor

Also known as M. Neckar

French finance minister dismissed by Louis XVI, sparking revolution.

Wat Tyler

minor

Also known as Tyler

Leader of the Peasants' Revolt in England, mentioned as a rebel.

Count de Broglie

minor

Also known as Broglio, Count

French military commander during the early Revolution.

Benjamin Franklin

minor

Also known as Franklin, Dr. Franklin

American inventor and diplomat, admired by Paine.

Charles James Fox

minor

Also known as Fox, Mr. Fox

British Whig politician who supported the French Revolution.

George Chalmers

minor

Also known as Mr. George Chalmers, Mr. Chalmers, George

British writer and critic of Paine, author of a hostile biography.

Samuel Johnson

minor

Also known as Johnson, Dr. Johnson

English writer and lexicographer, quoted by Burke.

Count Vergennes

minor

Also known as Count Vergennes

French foreign minister under Louis XVI, involved in American aid.

Rev. William Knowle

minor

Also known as William

English clergyman and writer, cited by Paine.

Count d'Artois

minor

Also known as The Count D’Artois, Count D’Artois

French prince, later King Charles X, opposed the Revolution.

George I

minor

Also known as George the First, George

First Hanoverian king of England, cited in debates on succession.

Montesquieu

minor

French philosopher whose ideas on government influenced Paine.

Voltaire

minor

French Enlightenment writer, praised for his defense of liberty.

Abbé Sieyès

minor

Also known as the Abbé Sieyès, Sieyès

French revolutionary clergyman and author of political pamphlets.

Thomas Rickman

minor

Also known as Rickman, Thomas "Clio" Rickman

Friend and publisher of Paine, mentioned in endnotes.

Louis XVI

minor

Also known as Louis XVI

King of France during the Revolution, executed in 1793.

James II

minor

Also known as James

Deposed Stuart king of England, cited in debates on monarchy.

Charles I

minor

Also known as Charles

Executed Stuart king of England, referenced in historical arguments.

John Sinclair

minor

Also known as Sir John Sinclair, John

British agriculturalist and politician, cited by Paine.

Nathanael Greene

minor

Also known as General Greene

American general in the Revolutionary War, praised by Paine.

John Horne Tooke

minor

Also known as Mr. Horne Tooke

English radical politician and friend of Paine.

Lord George Gordon

minor

Also known as George

British politician and anti-Catholic riot instigator.

King John

minor

Also known as The King, King John

English king who signed Magna Carta, cited in constitutional debates.

Richard Price

minor

Also known as Dr. Price

Welsh moral philosopher and supporter of the French Revolution.

Joseph Foulon

minor

Also known as Foulon

French official lynched by a Parisian mob in 1789.

Jean Sylvain Bailly

minor

Also known as M. Bailly

First mayor of Paris during the French Revolution.

William of Normandy

minor

Also known as William

Norman conqueror of England, cited in historical arguments.

Henry Laurens

minor

Also known as Colonel Lawrens

American statesman and diplomat, mentioned in passing.

Richard II

minor

Also known as Richard

English king deposed by Henry IV, cited in historical examples.