James Otis: The Pre-Revolutionist is a classic American history biography by John Clark Ridpath. James Otis Jr. (February 5, 1725 - May 23, 1783) was a lawyer in colonial Massachusetts, a member of the Massachusetts provincial assembly, and an early advocate of the Patriot views against British policy that led to the American Revolution. His catchphrase "Taxation without representation is tyranny" became the basic Patriot position.