- March 6, 1809, 217 years ago — Death of Thomas Heyward Jr..
- March 6, 1724, 302 years ago — Birth of Henry Laurens, President of the Continental Congress.
- March 7, 1707, 319 years ago — Birth of Stephen Hopkins, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
- March 7, 1699, 327 years ago — Birth of Susanna Boylston Adams, mother of John Adams.
Francis Hopkinson
HOPKINSON, Francis, signer of the Declaration of Independence, born in Philadelphia, Pa., 2 October, 1737; died there, 9 May, 1791.
He graduated from the College of Philadelphia in 1757 and became a lawyer and public servant. Hopkinson was a delegate from New Jersey to the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence.
He was also a talented writer, satirist, and composer. His political essays and musical compositions supported the revolutionary cause and mocked British authority. Hopkinson is credited with helping design early American flags and seals.
After independence, he served as a judge of the admiralty court in Pennsylvania and was appointed to the federal judiciary by President Washington.
Hopkinson’s blend of wit, patriotism, and public service made him a unique figure among the Founders.
Source:
Wilson, James Grant, and John Fiske, eds. Appleton’s Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1887. Patriot Echoes Archive
Founders:
No files found for this document.