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We arrived at Red Hill,the plantation and last home of Patrick Henry, in the early morning of a glorious sunny day.

Patrick Henry, Virginia patriot, was of course most famous for his declaration in the Virginia legislature, "Give me Liberty, or give me Death!". Although his name and famous saying was familiar to Jan, she knew little else of his illustrious career until she visited Red Hill. Before becoming a politician, Patrick Henry was perhaps the pre-eminent criminal lawyer of his day. His first political post was as an elected member of the House of Burgesses in Williamsburg under the British colonial administration. After independence, he served five one-year terms as Governor of Virginia, and was Virginia's representatives to the Constitutional Congress. A strong supporter of individual and states' rights he opposed the new Constituion of the United States, but became reconciled to it once the Bill of Rights was passed. He later turned down appointments to be U.S. Secretary of State and Chief Justice because of failing health.

Henry dearly loved his Red Hill plantation, and called it the "garden spot" of the earth. He died here in 1799 of a very painful liver disease.