Paul Revere (January 1, 1735 – May 10, 1818) was an American silversmith, engraver, early industrialist, Sons of Liberty member, and Patriot. He is considered a folk hero for his midnight ride to alert the colonial militia in April 1775 to the approach of British forces before the battles of Lexington and Concord. Revere later served as a Massachusetts militia officer, though his service ended after the Penobscot Expedition, one of the most disastrous campaigns of the American Revolutionary War, for which he was absolved of blame. Following the war, Revere returned to his silversmith trade. He used the profits from his expanding business to finance his work in iron casting, bronze bell and cannon casting, and the forging of copper bolts and spikes. In 1800, he became the first American to successfully roll copper into sheets for use as sheathing on naval vessels.