Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) distinguished himself in the French and Indian Wars but now lives in peace with his seven children on his sprawling South Carolina plantation. The horrors of conflict come back to haunt him, however, when his headstrong eldest son Gabriel (Heath Ledger) defies his orders to join the American army. Unwilling to get involved himself, Benjamin reluctantly joins the fight when second eldest son Thomas (Gregory Smith) is killed in cold blood by sadistic British officer, Colonel Tavington (Jason Isaacs). Determined to protect the rest of his family and sister-in-law Charlotte (Joely Richardson) from harm, Benjamin takes up arms alongside his patriotic son Gabriel, leading a brave militia into battle against the overwhelming English army.