Thomas Paine was an English-American political activist and author who played a major role in the American Revolution and French Revolution. He authored influential pamphlets that inspired revolutionary thought, including Common Sense in 1776, which argued for American independence from Britain. He also wrote The Crisis papers from 1776-1783 to bolster American morale during the Revolutionary War. Paine lived an eventful life, serving in the Continental Army, receiving honorary degrees, and aiding in drafting declarations of rights in both America and France. He died in 1809 in New York.