The 39 Days of the Brave: - Thomas Mifflin Day 22

[First Coast Tea Party]

 

Constitution Signer

 

Thomas Mifflin

 

Thomas Mifflin was an American merchant and politician from Philadelphia, a major general in the Continental Army, a member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly, and a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania.  He served as President of the Continental Congress and a signer of the Constitution.

Mifflin was born on 10 January, 1744 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and graduated from the College of Philadelphia. In 1760 he joined the mercantile business of William Biddle and his political ideas were influenced by his international business experience.

 

Mifflin left the Continental Congress to serve in the Continental Army.  He was consequently expelled from the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) despite being a 4^th generation Quaker.  Commissioned as a major, his talents and mercantile background led him to be appointed Quartermaster General of the Continental Army.  Mifflin ultimately resigned this appointment in the face of mounting criticism.

 

Mifflin served two terms in the Continental Congress.  He was a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention in 1787, as well as a signer of the Constitution.  As the 5^th President of the United States in Congress Assembled, he accepted Washington’s resignation as Commander in Chief and signed the ratification of the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolution. In addition, he was a member of the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and in 1788 was elected President of the Council, replacing Benjamin Franklin.  He presided over the committee that wrote Pennsylvania’s 1790 State Constitution and in 1790, Mifflin became the first Governor of the Commonwealth.

 

Mifflin returned to the state legislature briefly before his death.  He decreed that no less than six towns in Pennsylvania bear his name and died on 20 January 1800 at Lancaster, Pennsylvaniaeath: 9 September 1806, New York. associate justice of the Supreme Courth (1793-1806)rsey.  ral court system. 

 

http://www.history.army.mil/books/revwar/ss/mifflin.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Mifflin