The Thomas Paine Historical Association

Thomas Paine’s poetry was another form of his expression, revealing additional facets of his personality and often acting as the proving ground for his political ideas. This event will explore Paine’s poetic legacy and how it relates to Paine’s philosophy and will feature Paine's words put to song by Tutti Bravi
Ensemble. Thomas Paine Historical Association Board member Dr. Scott Cleary, Professor of English at Iona University, will be the speaker. Scott is a senior editor of the new Collected Writings of Thomas Paine to be released soon by Princeton University Press. He was awarded the Iona College Irene Hammerbacher Award for Faculty Research in 2017 for his work on Paine, and with the University of Virginia Press published a book on Thomas Paine’s poetry entitled The Field of Imagination: Thomas Paine and Eighteenth-Century Poetry in 2019.

Join us in person for an engaging evening diving into the world of Thomas Paine! Experience a lively lecture, hear some of his powerful poetry recited and sung aloud while you enjoy captivating performances that bring his words to life. Whether you’re a history buff or just curious, this event is the perfect way to connect with Paine’s legacy in a fun and informal setting. Don’t miss out!

The Thomas Paine Historical Association is proud to announce a May Day event with our Board Member Paul Myles. Myles will discuss his book, Thomas Paine and the Case of the Officers of Excise, and how Paine’s 1772 pamphlet emerged from a nationwide campaign by thousands of poorly paid excise officers seeking reform—what was arguably the first organized national labor movement within the British state and a precursor to modern trade unionism. The pamphlet exposed systemic corruption rooted not simply in individual vice, but in structural poverty and administrative failure, linking the welfare of public servants directly to the health of government itself.

By situating Paine’s early development within the realities of bureaucracy, patronage, corruption, and political debate, this study challenges longstanding biographical myths and presents a new understanding of how radical ideas emerge from practical experience. It reveals The Case of the Officers of Excise as a milestone in the history of labor organisation, public administration, and democratic thought.

Drawing on newly uncovered archival evidence (including lost petition signatures, Treasury records, and Excise minute books) Myles reconstructs Thomas Paine’s career as a government officer and reveals how his experiences inside Britain’s largest revenue-collecting institution shaped his political ideology. Set against the turbulent political landscape of Britain under George III, the event will also explore Paine’s formative years in the politically vibrant town of Lewes and the intellectual influence of the provincial press. These experiences explain Paine’s remarkable transformation from minor civil servant to revolutionary author within a few short years, reflecting his close relationship to Benjamin Franklin and departure for America.

Provocative, meticulously researched, and rich in historical detail, this book restores a forgotten chapter of both Thomas Paine’s life and Britain’s political history—one whose implications still resonate today. Join Paul to find out how his research unfolded and the surprising details that were revealed.