When the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in
1787, William Jackson (1759-1828), applied for the position as its
secretary. The friendships he'd made with many of the delegates
during the Revolutionary War (especially Alexander Hamilton),
helped this gifted writer and orator edge out Benjamin Franklin's
grandson for the position. He was thereby able to utilize his
considerable organizational talents in the service of the new
republic. Jackson was sworn to protect the secrecy of the
deliberations. After the final draft of the Constitution was
signed, he destroyed all records except for the official journal.
Jackson was given orders to do this by the delegates. John Jay
showed promise of an extraordinary life at a very young age indeed.
John Jay was the second youngest member, at age 28. Samuel Chase
was selected in 1774 to represent Maryland at the Continental
Congress. In 1796 he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of
the United States by George Washington Both George Mason and
Elbridge Gerry played most influential roles at the Constitutional
Convention. Each man's attendance record was nearly perfect.
Although Gerry had signed the Declaration of Independence, he, as
did Mason, refused to sign the Constitution. Why? Because both
objected to the fact that it contained no Bill of Rights. For
Mason, the last straw came on September 12, 1787, when his proposal
to include a Bill of Rights in the new Constitution was defeated 10
states to none. He offered to rewrite the material. Not even this
turned out to be enough to sway the delegates who were impatient
who were more interested in finishing the task at hand and then
getting back home. Mason adamantly declared that he could not
support the final version. A few of Robert Livingston's most often
forgotten claims to fame? One is the fact that it was he who
administered the Presidential Oath of Office to George Washington.
He was also the man who successfully negotiated the Louisiana
Purchase from the French. And lastly, he was a sponsor of Robert
Fulton, who man who refined the steam engine. President Washington
appointed him Secretary of State in 1795, but Henry declined the
office. In 1799, President Adams appointed him envoy to France, but
failing health required him to decline this office as well. Yes,
Patrick Henry Also Declined to Serve Patrick Henry represented
Virginia in the First Continental Congress in 1774 where he
continued in the role of firebrand. At the outbreak of the
Revolution, he returned to his native state and lead militia in
defense of Virginia's store of gunpowder. He wasn't a member of the
Continental Congress when the Declaration of Independence was voted
on and accepted in 1776. Although a man of high reputation as a
patriot in the colonies, he hadn't been elected to be a delegate.
His personality was decidedly different when compared to the stern
honor of Washington, the refined logic of Jefferson, and the
well-tempered industry of Franklin. He was a kid that no one
thought would amount to anything. He appeared to have little
ambition and was a notorious time waster, though everyone knew he
was sharp minded. Henry showed no interest in schooling as a
youngster and didn't want to farm. Apparently, pressure from his
young family (he had married at the age of eighteen) caused him to
study for a few weeks and to take the bar exam. He easily passed,
and begin to work as a lawyer. Here are a number of important bits
of trivia about Patrick Henry: Henry's reputation as a passionate
and fiery orator exceeded even that of Samuel Adams. Why Did
Washington Not Sign the Declaration? George Washington was not in
attendance at the Continental Congress when the Declaration was
signed. He was at the time Commander-in Chief of the Continental
Army and serving in this capacity.
General
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