Talk:Henry Laurens

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[edit] The Patriot?

I removed the following portion:

Some aspects of the life of Henry Laurens were used in creating the fictional character Benjamin Martin in the 2000 motion picture The Patriot. Like Martin, he maintained a residence in Charleston and was a reluctant rebel. While he didn't see military service, his home was burned and his oldest son died in battle.

This seems to be OR; I can't find any reference to it elsewhere. The The Patriot article says "Benjamin Martin is a combination of Brig. Gen. Francis "Swamp Fox" Marion and Col. Daniel Morgan," And this website [1] makes no mention of Henry Laurens. The facts that his house burned and his son died in battle seem to coincidental and common to the era. Also, as president of the continental congress, I highly doubt he was a reluctant rebel. Anyway, if there is actual evidence that Henry Laurens was an inspiration for the character, please source and reinsert. —pfahlstrom 01:51, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

Henry Laurens was slow to support American independence in the 1760s, during the initial era of riots and boycotts, but he became an enthusiastic patriot in the 1770s. Drfryer 22:09, 18 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] John Laurens's plan to free slaves

The sentences regarding John Laurens's plan to enlist slaves in the armed services, as an eventual step to freedom, were essentially true but exaggerated so I toned them down and added a reference. I have never seen evidence that Henry Laurens supported this plan. His letters about it to his son are gentle, but make it clear that he did not think it was likely to succeed. Needless to say, most other South Carolina property-holders found the plan laughable. Drfryer 22:09, 18 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] birth

"Henry was born to John and Esther Grasset Laurens in Charleston, South Carolina. According to the Julian calendar, Laurens was born on February 24, 1724; according to the Gregorian calendar, which was adopted in Britain and its colonies during Laurens' lifetime, he was born on March 6, 1724."

• How can this be explained please?Zigzig20s 19:21, 25 March 2007 (UTC)

What is to explain? Have you looked at the linked articles for Julian calendar and Gregorian calendar or the related Old Style and New Style dates? England began using a different calendar in 1752. In American history, tradition is to convert the dates to the new style. Laurens was born on February 24 old style. The conversion to the new style means adding eleven days, hence March 6. (1724 was a leap year, so there was a February 29.) The only questionable aspect as far as I'm concerned is the year. In addition to adding eleven days, the change to the new calendar also changed the beginning of the new year. Prior to the change in England and English colonies, the new year began on March 25. After the change the new year began on January 1. While there are reliable sources that give February 24 as his birth date, I've not come across any that give the year as 1723. older ≠ wiser 21:31, 25 March 2007 (UTC)