The Midnight Rider’s Day Job: Paul Revere’s Influence on American Tea Culture

Paul Revere with silver teapot.

  

I will sheepishly admit that I am not the biggest history buff – my husband has this area more than covered.  That said, even I (in my history ignorance), know about Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride.  Even I know he was a revolutionary.  As an aside, his name also evokes memories of my father singing a silly campfire song, “I got a horrrrrse right here, his name is Paul Revere…”, but that’s neither here nor there.  But what of the man pre midnight ride?!?!?    Turns out this revolutionary was rather civilized, in fact, he had a day job.  Before entering the annals of history, Paul Revere was a successful silversmith of high quality teaware.   Residing in Boston, a mecca of all things trendsetting at the time (1700s), the Revere family was well known for its silver teapots.  And of course, at this time in American history there was no lack of tea (though the lot of it may have been illegal).  No matter though, despite the shady tea origins, Paul Revere was tickled pink to create stunning masterpieces for his customers.  Learning the trade from his French father, young Revere began apprenticing at the tender age of 13.    By the time adulthood rolled around, Revere was riding the waves of a very steady business.  For a long time, he preferred the elegant and rather popular Queen Anne style.  Enter the Boston Tea Party, December 1773.   When those colonial protesters dumped that tea into icy waters, the course of American history (and tea) would be entangled forevermore.  This is a whole other fascinating tale for another day, however.   For the sake of this story, it is sufficed to say that drinking tea became, er, unpopular.  Unpatriotic.  Perhaps America’s love affair with coffee was born at this time?  Who knows.  Back on track…due to all this turmoil, the demand for teapots declined, of course.  At this time, Paul Revere ditched his trade and focused on what he would become famous for.  Ten years passed with Mr. Revere focusing on being a revolutionary.  During this time, he apparently released a drawing with political intent:  America sketched as a by and large naked woman being pinned by the arms and forced to drink tea.  If that didn’t get undies in a bunch, I don’t know what would.  Huh.  Creative fellow, this Revere.  After the ashes of this disastrous era cooled off, America began to pick up their tea cups once again.  I would, however,  venture to say that tea has never reached its pinnacle again in North America since these events.  Pity.  But Paul Revere had the creative urge to begin designing teapots again, and so he did.  By the late 1780s, Paul’s teapots had taken on a new, intriguing style.  Leaving behind their former voluptuous curves, Revere’s pots became more squat, drum-like and boasted solid wooden handles. 

From Paul Revere's later designs.

 

Well after his death in 1818, the colonial way of life saw a resurgence and tea drinking gained in popularity.  Like many artists that have come and gone, Revere’s works were once again celebrated and enjoyed among new generations.  Like all good things are.  The midnight rider changed history in more than one way, how very interesting indeed.  Today one can see a handful of Revere’s silver pieces at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.  I may have to travel to New York for research purposes.  Ahem.  Now, off I go to polish my silver tea service…until next time!