By Jacob Cummins

In 1774 Thomas met Benjamin Franklin in London and was convinced to migrate to Philadelphia. His career turned from tax collecting to journalism and he wrote Common SenseWhich was a strong defense of American Independence from England.

Thomas returned to Europe and while there he wrote The Rights of Man. This work caused him to be labeled an outlaw.

In 1793 he was imprisoned in France and during his imprisonment he wrote The Age of Reason which was an anti-church text.

He eventually was released and returned back to America in 1802.