Thomas Paine

He who increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow. This article contains spoilers, meaning it has information and facts concerning recent or upcoming releases from the Assassin's Creed series. If you do not want to know about these events, it is recommended to read on with caution, or not at all. This template should be removed from the article three months after release.

"I don't have any record of Connor actually meeting Paine, but I thought you'd like to know about him as his words played such a crucial role in the revolution."

―Shaun Hastings concluding his database entry on Paine for Desmond Miles, 2012.

Thomas Paine (9 February 1737 – 8 June 1809) was an English political activist, philosopher, author, and political theorist who participated in both the American Revolution and the French Revolution.

His 1776 book Common Sense argued against British rule of the American colonies in terms uneducated civilians could understand, swelling support for the Continental Congress during the American Revolutionary War.

Paine moved to France in 1790 after its revolution broke out. He was arrested and imprisoned in 1793, but was rescued by the Assassin Arno Dorian.