Thomas Mifflin

Early Life and Mercantile Career

Thomas Mifflin was born on January 10, 1744, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania) and entered the mercantile business. His success in commerce and his eloquence in public affairs led him into revolutionary politics.

Revolutionary Service

Mifflin was an early supporter of independence and served in the Continental Congress. He became an aide-de-camp to George Washington and was later appointed Quartermaster General of the Continental Army. Though criticized for supply shortages, he remained a loyal patriot and continued to serve in military and political roles.

Political Leadership

After the war, Mifflin served as President of the Continental Congress and signed the Articles of Confederation. He was elected the first Governor of Pennsylvania under its new constitution, serving from 1790 to 1799. His administration focused on institutional reform and strengthening state governance.

Constitutional Engagement

Mifflin was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and signed the U.S. Constitution. He supported a strong federal government and worked to ensure Pennsylvania’s ratification of the document. His political career reflected a balance between national unity and state sovereignty.

Legacy

Thomas Mifflin died on January 20, 1800. He is remembered as a versatile leader—soldier, statesman, and executive—whose contributions spanned the military, legislative, and constitutional arenas of the early republic.

Source:
McCabe, James D. The Centennial Book of American Biography: Embracing the Lives of the Great Men Whose Deeds Illustrate the First 100 Years of American Independence. Philadelphia and Chicago: P. W. Ziegler & Co., 1876. Internet Archive