Thomas Paine, The Radicals' Radical. Thomas Paine was born in Thetford in 1737. He was the only significant figure to play an active role in both the American & French Revolutions. A staunch republican & democrat, he was very much a man of the 18th century Enlightenment, and was an influential freethinker and advocate of natural rights. He is, of course, best known for Rights of Man (1791 & 1792), but he was a prolific writer, and it was his surprisingly modern style of writing that made him so important - as well as his message. Narrowly escaping the guillotine in France, he returned to the USA in 1802..... But was no longer welcome. He was regarded as still being the revolutionary, and was distrusted. He died in New York in 1809. Previously Curator of Thetford's Museum, Chad Goodwin has worked as a tutor in adult education for almost 30 years, specialising in courses on radical politics.