- 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.
Button Gwinnett
Button Gwinnett was born in England in 1735. He emigrated to America and settled in Georgia, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits and later became active in public affairs. He was a member of the Provincial Assembly and a strong advocate for independence.
In 1776 he was elected to the Continental Congress and was present at the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, to which he affixed his signature. He also helped draft Georgia’s first state constitution and briefly served as acting president of the state.
Gwinnett’s political career was marked by intense rivalry, particularly with General Lachlan McIntosh. In 1777, this conflict led to a duel in which Gwinnett was mortally wounded.
He died May 19, 1777, in the forty-second year of his age, becoming one of the earliest casualties among the signers.
Source:
Lossing, Benson J. The Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. New York: A.S. Barnes & Co., 1855. Patriot Echoes Archive
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