The Founding Fathers
A Brief Overview
The 55 delegates who attended the Constitutional
Convention were a distinguished body of men who represented a cross
section of 18th-century American leadership. Almost all of them were
well-educated men of means who were dominant in their communities and
states, and many were also prominent in national affairs. Virtually
every one had taken part in the Revolution; at least 29 had served in
the Continental forces, most of them in positions of command.
Political Experience
The group, as a whole, had extensive political
experience. At the time of the convention, four-fifths, or 41
individuals, were or had been members of the Continental Congress.
Mifflin and Gorham had served as president of the body. The only ones
who lacked congressional experience were Bassett, Blair, Brearly, Broom,
Davie, Dayton, Alexander Martin, Luther Martin, Mason, McClurg,
Paterson, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Strong, and Yates. Eight men
(Clymer, Franklin, Gerry, Robert Morris, Read, Sherman, Wilson, and
Wythe) had signed the Declaration of
Independence. Six (Carroll,
Dickinson, Gerry, Gouverneur Morris, Robert Morris, and Sherman) had
affixed their signatures to the Articles of
Confederation. But only two,
Sherman and Robert Morris, underwrote all three of the nation's basic
documents. Practically all of the 55 delegates had experience in
colonial and state government. Dickinson, Franklin, Langdon, Livingston,
Alexander Martin, Randolph, Read, and Rutledge had been governors, and
the majority had held county and local offices .
Occupations
The delegates practiced a wide range of occupations, and
many men pursued more than one career simultaneously. Thirty-five were
lawyers or had benefited from legal training, though not all of them
relied on the profession for a livelihood. Some had also become judges.
At the time of the convention, 13 individuals were
businessmen, merchants, or shippers: Blount, Broom, Clymer, Dayton,
Fitzsimons, Gerry, Gilman, Gorham, Langdon, Robert Morris, Pierce,
Sherman, and Wilson. Six were major land speculators: Blount, Dayton,
Fitzsimons, Gorham, Robert Morris, and Wilson. Eleven speculated in
securities on a large scale: Bedford, Blair, Clymer, Dayton, Fitzsimons,
Franklin, King, Langdon, Robert Morris, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, and
Sherman. Twelve owned or managed slave-operated plantations or large
farms: Bassett, Blair, Blount, Butler, Carroll, Jenifer, Mason, Charles
Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Rutledge, Spaight, and
Washington. Madison also owned slaves. Broom and Few were small farmers.
Nine of the men received a substantial part of their
income from public office: Baldwin, Blair, Brearly, Gilman, Jenifer,
Livingston, Madison, and Rutledge. Three had retired from active
economic endeavors: Franklin, McHenry, and Mifflin. Franklin and
Williamson were scientists, in addition to their other activities.
McClurg, McHenry, and Williamson were physicians, and Johnson was a
university president. Baldwin had been a minister, and Williamson,
Madison, Ellsworth, and possibly others had studied theology but had
never been ordained.
A few of the delegates were wealthy. Washington and
Robert Morris ranked among the nation's most prosperous men. Carroll,
Houstoun, Jenifer, and Mifflin were also extremely well-to-do. Most of
the others had financial resources that ranged from good to excellent.
Among those with the most straitened circumstances were Baldwin, Brearly,
Broom, Few, Madison, Paterson, and Sherman, though they all managed to
live comfortably.
A considerable number of the men were born into
leading families: Blair, Butler, Carroll, Houstoun, Ingersoll, Jenifer,
Johnson, Livingston, Mifflin, Gouverneur Morris, both Pinckneys,
Randolph, Rutledge, Washington, and Wythe. Others were self-made men w
ho had risen from humble beginnings: Few, Franklin, Gorham, Hamilton,
and Sherman.
Geographic and Educational Background
Most of the delegates were natives of the 13 colonies.
Only eight were born elsewhere: four (Butler, Fitzsimons, McHenry, and
Paterson) in Ireland, two (Davie and Robert Morris) in England, one
(Wilson) in Scotland, and one (Hamilton) in the West Indies. Reflecting
the mobility that has always characterized American life, many of them
had moved from one state to another. Sixteen individuals had already
lived or worked in more than one state or colony: Baldwin, Bassett,
Bedford, Dickinson, Few, Franklin, Ingersoll, Livingston, Alexander
Martin, Luther Martin, Mercer, Gouverneur Morris, Robert Morris, Read,
Sherman, and Williamson. Several others had studied or traveled abroad.
The educational background of the Founding Fathers was
diverse. Some, like Franklin, were largely self-taught and had received
scant formal training. Others had obtained instruction from private
tutors or at academies. About half of the individuals had at tended or
graduated from college in the British North American colonies or abroad.
Some men held advanced and honorary degrees. For the most part, the
delegates were a well-educated group.
Longevity and Family Life
For their era, the delegates to the convention (like the
signers of the Declaration of
Independence) were remarkably long-lived.
Their average age at death was almost 67. Johnson reached the age of 92,
and Few, Franklin, Madison, Williamson, and Wythe lived into their
eighties. Fifteen or sixteen (depending on Fitzsimmon's exact age)
passed away in their eighth decade, and 20 or 21 in their sixties. Eight
lived into their fifties; five lived only into their forties, and two of
them (Hamilton and Spaight) were killed in duels. The first to die was
Houston in 1788; the last, Madison in 1836.
Most of the delegates married and raised children.
Sherman fathered the largest family, 15 children by 2 wives. At least
nine (Bassett, Brearly, Johnson, Mason, Paterson, Charles Cotesworth,
Pinckney, Sherman, Wilson, and Wythe) married more than once. Four
(Baldwin, Gilman, Jenifer, and Alexander Martin) were lifelong
bachelors. In terms of religious affiliation, the men mirrored the
overwhelmingly Protestant character of American religious life at the
time and were members of various denominations. Only two, Carroll and
Fitzsimons, were Roman Catholics.
Post-Convention Careers
The delegates subsequent careers reflected their
abilities as well as the vagaries of fate. Most were successful,
although seven (Fitzsimons, Gorham, Luther Martin, Mifflin, Robert
Morris, Pierce, and Wilson) suffered serious financial reverses that
left them in or near bankruptcy. Two, Blount and Dayton, were involved
in possibly treasonous activities. Yet, as they had done before the
convention, most of the group continued to render outstanding public
service, particularly to the new government they had helped to create.
Washington and Madison became President of the United
States, and King and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney were nominated as
candidates for the office. Gerry served as Madison's Vice President.
Hamilton, McHenry, Madison, and Randolph attained Cabinet posts.
Nineteen men became U.S. senators: Baldwin, Bassett, Blount, Butler,
Dayton, Ellsworth, Few, Gilman, Johnson, King, Langdon, Alexander
Martin, Gouverneur Morris, Robert Morris, Paterson, Charles Pinckney,
Read, Sherman, and Strong. Thirteen served in the House of
Representatives: Baldwin, Carroll, Clymer, Dayton, Fitzsimons, Gerry,
Gilman, Madison, Mercer, Charles Pinckney, Sherman, Spaight, and
Williamson. Of these, Dayton served as Speaker. Four men (Bassett,
Bedford, Brearly, and Few) served as federal judges, four more (Blair,
Paterson, Rutledge, and Wilson) as Associate Justices of the Supreme
Court. Rutledge and Ellsworth also held the position of Chief Justice.
Seven others (Davie, Ellsworth, Gerry, King, Gouverneur Morris, Charles
Pinckney, and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney) were named to diplomatic
missions for the nation.
Many delegates held important state positions,
including governor (Blount, Davie, Franklin, Gerry, Langdon, Livingston,
Alexander Martin, Mifflin, Paterson, Charles Pinckney, Spaight, and
Strong) and legislator. And most of the delegates contributed in m any
ways to the cultural life of their cities, communities, and states. Not
surprisingly, many of their sons and other descendants were to occupy
high positions in American political and intellectual life.
Ratifying the Constitution...
On September 17, 1787, the document was signed and
sent to Congress, which soon forwarded printed copies to the state
legislatures. Then began the great debate. Madison, Hamilton, and Jay
wrote the brilliant Federalist Papers. George Mason, Elbridge Gerry, and
Patrick Henry led the Antifederalists in opposing it. Others joined in
the argument, in pamphlets, articles, speeches, and letters. By June 21,
1788, conventions in nine states later approved it. Thus the States,
which had so recently gained their independence, gave up some of their
hard-won sovereignty "in Order to form a more perfect Union."
Image: James Madison was not only the preeminent figure at the
convention but also played a leading role in the ratification process.
THE FOUNDING FATHERS
Delegates to the Constitutional Convention
On February 21, 1787, the Continental Congress resolved that:
... it is expedient that on the second Monday in May next a
Convention of delegates who shall have been appointed by the several
States be held at Philadelphia for the sole and express purpose of
revising the Articles of Confederation...
Assembly Room in Independence Hall,
Philadelphia,
site of the signing of the Constitution in 1787.
Photo courtesy of Independence National Historical Park.
The original states, except Rhode Island, collectively appointed 70
individuals to the Constitutional
Convention, but a number did not
accept or could not attend. Those who did not attend included Richard
Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams
and, John Hancock.
In all, 55 delegates attended the Constitutional Convention sessions,
but only 39 actually signed the Constitution. The delegates ranged in
age from Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, to Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, who
was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair.
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS
For a short biographies of each of the Founding Fathers who were
delegates to the Constitutional Convention, select the names or the
states below. ( * indicates delegates who did not sign
the Constitution)
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