- 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.
John Penn
John Penn was born in Caroline County, Virginia, May 17, 1741. He received a limited early education but studied law under the guidance of his relative, Edmund Pendleton. He was admitted to the bar and began practicing law in Virginia before relocating to North Carolina in 1774.
He quickly rose to prominence in his new home and was elected to the Continental Congress in 1775. He was present at the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and affixed his signature to that sacred document in 1776.
Penn served in Congress until 1780 and was a member of North Carolina’s Board of War during the Revolution. He was known for his sound judgment, modest demeanor, and unwavering commitment to American liberty.
He died September 14, 1788, in Granville County, North Carolina, in the forty-eighth year of his age.
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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