Thomas Paine (1737–1809), a radical British pamphleteer, immigrated to America and quickly became a leading voice of the American Revolution. His essays, published anonymously, inflamed American minds to independence and inspired them to continue the fight when all seemed lost. In his series of pamphlets published as <em>The Crisis</em>, Paine penned the famous line: “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and sunshine patriot will, in this crisis shrink, from the service of their country.”