- 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.
James Wilson
WILSON, James, signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, born in Scotland, 1742; died in Edenton, N.C., 28 August, 1798.
He emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1765 and quickly rose in legal and political circles. Wilson was elected to the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence. He later played a major role in drafting and signing the Constitution.
Wilson was appointed one of the original justices of the U.S. Supreme Court and helped shape early American jurisprudence. He also taught law at the College of Philadelphia and advocated for popular sovereignty and federal unity.
Despite financial troubles late in life, Wilson’s contributions to constitutional theory and legal education were profound and enduring.
Source:
Wilson, James Grant, and John Fiske, eds. Appleton’s Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1887. Patriot Echoes Archive
Founders:
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