|
|
People of the Revolutionary War | The Founding Fathers - An Overview | William Houston
William Houston (1755-1813) - Georgia
Image: Courtesy of The Georgia Historical Society
William Houston was the son of Sir Patrick Houston, a member of the council under the royal government
of Georgia. He was born in 1755 in Savannah, GA. Houston received a liberal education, which included
legal training at Inner Temple in London. The War for Independence cut short his training, and Houston
returned home to Georgia. For many years members of Houston's family had been high officials in the colony.
With the onset of war, many remained loyal to the crown, but William, a zealous advocate of colonists'
rights, was among the first to counsel resistance to British aggression.
Houston represented Georgia in the Continental Congress from 1783
through 1786. He was chosen as one of Georgia's agents to settle a boundary dispute with South Carolina
in 1785 and was one of the original trustees of the University of Georgia at Athens.
When the Constitutional Convention convened in 1787, Houston
presented his credentials as one of Georgia's delegates. He stayed for only a short time, from June 1
until about July 23, but he was present during the debate on the representation question. Houston split
Georgia's vote on equal representation in the Senate, voting "nay" against Abraham Baldwin's
"aye."
Houston died in Savannah on March 17, 1813, and was interred in St. Paul's Chapel, New York City.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
