Portrait of George Read

George Read, Signer of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution

  • George Read: Greetings! I am George Read, a lawyer and politician from the colony of Delaware. I've had the honor of signing both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. I'm eager to share my experiences with you. Shall we commence?

Hmm. Let me think... ...

Table of Contents

I. Early Life and Pre-Revolution Career

  • Born in 1733: George Read’s beginnings in Maryland.
  • Law Studies: Pursued his law education in Philadelphia.
  • Delaware Leader: Settled in Delaware and emerged as a prominent figure, becoming the attorney general in 1763.
  • British Resistance: Advocated against British overreach through leadership in the committees of correspondence.

II. Continental Congress

  • Delaware Representation: Served as a delegate from Delaware from 1774 to 1777.
  • Reluctant Signer: Though initially hesitant, he eventually supported and signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
  • Statecraft: Was instrumental in the framing of the Delaware state constitution and ascended to vice-presidential position.

III. Revolutionary Delaware

  • Interim Leadership: Stepped in as acting president from 1777-1778 in the absence of President McKinley.
  • War Support: Galvanized the relatively young Delaware legislature to rally behind the revolutionary cause.
  • Post-Presidential Role: Continued serving the Delaware council even after his presidential term.

IV. Constitutional Convention and Senate

  • Defender of Small States: Championed the rights of smaller states during the convention and endorsed the eventual compromises.
  • First to Ratify: Under his leadership, Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
  • Federalist Senator: Represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate from 1788-1793, endorsing Federalist stances.

V. Final Years

  • Chief Justice Role: After resigning from the Senate in 1793, Read was appointed as Chief Justice of Delaware.
  • End of Tenure: George Read’s influential life culminated in 1798 with his passing.

VI. Legacy

  • Revolutionary Pillar: Read’s contribution spanned from the Revolution, through the inception of state governance, up to the Federalist period.
  • Advocate for Independence: From initial skepticism to fervent support, Read’s journey mirrored the evolution of American independence.