Final answer:
Paul Revere is the historical figure who famously warned the Patriots that the British were coming by riding out on the night of April 18, 1775, alerting the colonial militia of the impending British advance towards Lexington and Concord.
Step-by-step explanation:
The historical figure who warned the Patriots that the British were coming was Paul Revere. During the night of April 18, 1775, Revere and William Dawes set out to alert colonial militia of the British advance towards Lexington and Concord with an aim to capture rebel leaders and munition stores.
Thanks to their daring midnight ride, Samuel Adams and John Hancock were able to evade capture, and the militia prepared for the British arrival. The subsequent battles marked the beginning of armed conflict in the American Revolutionary War.
Paul Revere's ride is a pivotal event in American history, often poetically summarized by the phrase "The British are coming," which encapsulates the urgent call to arms for American independence.