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BIOGRAPHIES OF THE SIGNERS OF THE 59

tinental congress, where his counsels were of great service, in this perilous period. He was in congress in 1776, and affixed his name to the declaration of independence; shortly after which, he was sent to France as a commissioner to induce that government to join us in the revolutionary conflict. In this country he was popular with both the literati and the nobles, and soon affixed his name to a treaty of alliance with France; and afterward to treaties of friendship and commerce with other powerful nations of Europe. In 1785, he returned to Philadelphia, and his arrival caused a general rejoicing. His only wish now was for retirement, but this he was not permitted to enjoy, for he was elected President of Pennsylvania, and continued in office for three years. On the 17th of April, 1790, Franklin died, in the 84th year of his age. On his death, congress ordered a general mourning throughout the United States; and in Paris, orations were delivered in honour of the departed patriot and philosopher.

He re

BUTTON GWINETT, Was born in England, in the year 1732. ceived a good education, after which he became a merchant, in which business he remained for several years, when he embarked for America, and first fixed his residence in South Carolina, but afterwards removed to Georgia, where he purchased a large tract of land. In 1776, he was elected a delegate to the continental congress from Georgia, and was there in season to affix his name to the declaration of independence. In Georgia he was elevated to the highest stations in the gift of the people; but in the collisions of party his feelings were wounded, and he challenged

his adversary, by whom he was mortally wounded, He died on the 27th of May, 1777, in the 45th year of his age.

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Was born in Marblehead, Massachusetts, on the 17th of July, 1744. He graduated at Harvard Col lege in 1762, and at the age of 18 entered the counting room, and for so ne time made commerce his pur. suit. In 1773, he represented his native place in the state legislature, in which he took a leading part. In 1774, he was chosen a member of the provincial con. gress, and from thence was sent to the continental congress, where he signed the declaration of independence. Mr. Gerry took a front rank in congress on commercial and naval subjects, as he had made them his particular study; and his character as a financier standing high in that body, he was engaged in all the committees which discussed this difficult subject. In 1783, Mr. Gerry served in the congress of the confederation; and was also a member of the convention which proposed a form of a constitution for the United States, which he, with others, opposed After its adoption, he gave up all opposition, and assisted to carry it into effect. In 1797, Mr. Gerry wag appointed an envoy to France, in conjunction with Messrs. Marshall and Pinkney: but the two latter were ordered away, and Mr. Gerry invited to continue, which he acceded to; this caused some severe strictures from his political enemies, but his reasons were satisfactory to his friends. On his return, Mr. Gerry was elected governor of Massachusetts, and afterwards vice president of the United States, in which latter office he died, in Washington city, on the 23d of November, 1814.

LYMAN HALL,

Was born in Connecticut, in the year 1721. He graduated at Yale college, and after having acquired a competent knowledge of medicine, he emigrated to South Carolina in 1752, but soon removed to Georgia, where he followed his profession until the commencement of the revolution. In 1775, he was sent as a member of the parish of St. Johns to the continental congress, the state of Georgia not having then acceded to the confederacy; but, fortunately, in the same year they agreed to it, and Dr. Hall was then appointed one of the delegates of the state. In 1776 he had the honour of affixing his name to the instrument that 'declared us free and independent. During the war of the revolution, Georgia was temporarily under the power of the British, and Dr. Hall, removed to the north but all his property was confiscated. In 1782, he returned to his adopted state, and in the following year was elected its chief magistrate. After enjoying this office for a time, he retired from public life, and died at his residence in Burke county, in the 60th year of his age.

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Was born at Quincy, near Boston in Massachusetts, in 1737. He graduated at Cambridge College in 1754, after which he became a merchant, under the patronage of his uncle, who adopted him, and left him heir to his princely fortune. A great crisis was now approaching in the affairs of the colonies, and Mr. Hancock became a politician. He was first elected a selectman of the town of Boston, at that time a dignity second to none in the gift of a free

people. He was next sent to the general assembly of the commonwealth, where by his urbane and gentlemanly behaviour, he acquired an extensive popularity. In 1774, he delivered an oration on the massacre of 1770, which, from the bold and daring manner in which he spoke, considerably raised his reputation. Soon after this, he was president of the provincial congress and, the next year, was made president of the continental congress at Philadelphia. He presided over that body with impartiality and dignity, and was the first signer of the declaration of independence. When Mr. Hancock retired from the continental congress, he did not leave pubfic life; for he was a member of the convention that formed the constitution of Massachusetts, under which he was elected governor, from 1780 to 1793, with the exception of one year, when he declined a re-election. The person of Mr. Hancock was fine, his manners elegant, and his hospitality unbounded. He died of the gout, which was hereditary in his family, the 8th of October, 1793, in the 55th year of his age.

BENJAMIN

HARRISON,

Was born in Virginia, but the date of his birth has not been satisfactorily ascertained. He was a student in the college of William and Mary, but, in consequence of a misunderstanding with an officer of that institution, left it before the regular period of graduation. Mr. Harrison commenced his political career in 1764, as a member of the Virginia legislature, a situation which he nay be said to have held through life, as he was always elected to a seat, when his other political employments admitted of

his occupying it. He was a member of the continental congress of 1774, and in 1776 signed the declaration which declared us independent. He continued in that body until the close of the year 1777, when he resigned his situation, and returned to Virginia. After his return, he was elected a member of the house of burgesses, of which body he was immediately chosen speaker, which station he held until 1782. At this time he was elected governor of Virginia, and was re-elected to this office until 1785, when, by the provisions of the constitution, his age rendered him ineligible to office. Mr. Harrison filled many political situations after this time, until April, 1791, when he was seized with a severe fit of the gout, of which he died.

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Was born in New Jersey, and was a man of firm and decided character. He was an excellent agriculturist, and was pursuing his peaceful course, when he was called upon to take a part in the fierce struggle that was preparing for his country. He was elected a member of the continental congress in 1774, in which he remained until 1776, when he signed the declaration of independence. After this, he took a quiet, but decided part in the affairs of his country, for which he suffered much from British enmity, particularly after they carried the war into New Jersey, for the enemy had orders to look after the signers of the declaration, and make examples of them if taken, Mr. Hart died before the close of the conflict, his constitution being broken down by his sufferings, and he left this world in 1780, bearing the character of an honest and upright man, and a firm patriot.

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