Who famously said, "Give me liberty, or give me death"?

The statement "Give me liberty, or give me death" was famously declared by Patrick Henry during a speech he delivered at the Second Virginia Convention in 1775. This phrase has become emblematic of the American struggle for independence and is often cited as a passionate appeal for freedom and resistance against British rule. Henry's speech was instrumental in persuading the convention to deliver Virginian troops for the upcoming war against Britain, exemplifying his role as a leader in the fight for American independence. His eloquence on the necessity of liberty over life itself resonated deeply with his contemporaries and continues to be a rallying cry for freedom.

In contrast, while Samuel Adams and Thomas Paine were also prominent figures in the revolutionary movement, they are associated with different contexts and works that addressed the need for independence and governance but did not deliver this particular phrase. George Washington, as the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, played a critical role in the revolutionary war as well, but he is not known for this specific quote.