Thomas Paine was born on January 29th,1737,in Thetford,Norfolk,England. He was the son of a Quaker father and an Anglican mother. He had on sister who was named Elizabeth Paine. He went to Thetford Grammar School and had a very short and basic education(he failed school at age 12). At the age of 13, Paine became his father's apprentice. They made the ropes that would go on a ship.