Malcolm Rivera
David Brearly was a delegate to the US Constitutional Convention and signed the US Constitution on behalf of New Jersey. He was also a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He is known for his leadership and for being a quiet delegate who listened more than he spoke. Brearly played a crucial role in shaping the final document as the Chairman of the Committee on Postponed Parts, which addressed issues such as taxes, war-making, patents, and copyrights. He also steered New Jersey's unanimous ratification vote and is considered a local hero of the American Revolution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Did David Brearly sign the Constitution? | Yes |
| Who did he sign the Constitution on behalf of? | New Jersey |
| What was his role in the Constitutional Convention? | Chairman of the Committee on Postponed Parts |
| What was the Committee on Postponed Parts also known as? | The Brearly Committee (and the Third Committee of Eleven) |
| What was the Committee's role? | To review and settle debates on how the United States Government should be organized |
| What were some of the issues the Committee addressed? | Taxes, war-making, patents and copyrights, relations with Native American tribes, and Franklin's compromise to require money bills to originate in the House of Representatives |
| What was David Brearly's role in the New Jersey militia? | Captain |
| What was his role in the Continental Army? | He served in the New Jersey Line |
| What was his role in the judiciary? | Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court |
| What was his notable judicial contribution? | He ruled in the Holmes v. Walton case that the judiciary could declare laws unconstitutional |
| Did he support the New Jersey Plan? | Yes |
| What was his role after the Constitution was signed? | Federal district judge |
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What You'll Learn
David Brearley's role in the Constitutional Convention
David Brearly played a significant role in the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He was a delegate from New Jersey and, although he was described as a quiet man who listened more than he spoke, he was an important and respected member of the convention.
Brearly's most notable contribution was as Chairman of the Committee on Postponed Parts, also known as the Brearley Committee. This committee addressed several challenging and contentious issues that had been postponed by the whole convention. They tackled questions related to taxes, war-making, patents and copyrights, and relations with Native American tribes. One of their most significant tasks was deciding on the role and powers of the president, including the method of choosing the president. In just five days, the committee, with Brearly's leadership, created a powerful executive with a vice-president and an Electoral College for selection.
Brearly also played a part in shaping the structure of the legislature. He successfully fought for a Senate in which each state would have equal votes, a key aspect of the New Jersey Plan, which he supported. This plan proposed that each state, regardless of population, should get one vote. Brearly's committee moved some powers typically held by the executive branch to the legislature, further shaping the balance of power within the government.
Brearly's contributions to the Constitutional Convention were significant, and he was one of the signers of the final document, representing New Jersey. His role in the convention and his influence on the final Constitution are considered by some to have been obscured by the more well-known figures of the time. However, his leadership and compromise-brokering skills were instrumental in creating the foundation of the United States government.
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The Committee on Postponed Parts
David Brearley, a delegate to the US Constitutional Convention, signed the US Constitution on behalf of New Jersey. He was also a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Brearley was born in Spring Grove, New Jersey, and graduated from the College of New Jersey, which later became Princeton University. He read law and practised in Allentown, New Jersey, and resided in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.
Brearley served as the Chairman of the Committee on Postponed Parts, also known as the Brearley Committee, during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The committee played a crucial role in shaping the final document of the US Constitution. The Committee on Postponed Parts addressed significant questions and issues that had been postponed during the convention's proceedings. They covered topics such as taxes, war-making powers, patents and copyrights, relations with Native American tribes, and Franklin's compromise on the origination of money bills in the House of Representatives.
One of the committee's most notable achievements was its work on the presidency. With input from James Madison, the committee adopted the Electoral College system for choosing the president. They also devised a method for selecting the president if no candidate secured a majority in the Electoral College. Additionally, the committee created the office of Vice President, establishing that the Vice President would assume the President's powers and duties in the event of the President's removal, death, absence, resignation, or inability to serve. This provision ensured a smooth transition of power and maintained the stability of the executive branch.
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The New Jersey Plan
Yes, David Brearley signed the US Constitution on behalf of New Jersey. He was also a delegate to the US Constitutional Convention in 1787.
The fourth resolution proposed an executive branch composed of multiple individuals, who could be removed by a majority vote of the states. This was followed by the fifth resolution, which called for a federal judiciary appointed by the executive branch to hear impeachments and appeals. The remaining resolutions included provisions for the admission of new states into the Union, a uniform rule of naturalization, and equal treatment of citizens in state criminal courts.
Despite the efforts of its proponents, the New Jersey Plan was ultimately rejected by the delegates on June 19, with seven states voting against it, three in favour, and one divided. The convention instead opted for the Virginia Plan, which formed the basis for the current structure of Congress. However, the concerns of the less populous states were not entirely dismissed. Through the Connecticut Compromise, elements of both plans were combined to create a compromise on representation, resulting in the Senate, where each state has equal representation, and the House of Representatives, where representation is based on population.
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David Brearley's military career
David Brearley was an important figure in the creation of the United States Constitution, serving as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. He was also a significant military leader, serving in the New Jersey militia and rising to the rank of captain.
Brearley's military career began with the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War. He joined the Monmouth County militia and eventually rose to the rank of colonel in Nathaniel Heard's New Jersey militia brigade. From 1776 to 1779, he served in the New Jersey Line of the Continental Army, seeing action at Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth.
During the war, Brearley served alongside Washington at Valley Forge, demonstrating his commitment to the Revolutionary Cause. He was also the son of a radical who had been jailed for his leadership in the anti-Proprietary land riots in the 1740s, indicating that Brearley likely grew up with a strong sense of revolutionary ideals.
In 1779, Brearley resigned from the army to serve as the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, a position he held until 1789. However, his military service continued after his resignation, as he became one of the founding members of the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of New Jersey in 1783, serving as the state society's vice president until his death in 1790.
Brearley's military career and his experience as a leader in the Revolutionary War likely influenced his contributions to the Constitutional Convention. As a delegate, he was known for his leadership and ability to resolve difficult issues, a skill set that likely stemmed from his military experience. He was also a strong advocate for states' rights, proposing that each state should have one vote, rather than votes being based on population. This proposal, known as the New Jersey Plan, was ultimately adopted, shaping the structure of the United States government.
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David Brearley's death
David Brearley, an American Founding Father, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, and a delegate from New Jersey to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, died on August 16, 1790, in Trenton, New Jersey. He was buried at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Trenton, where a cenotaph was placed in 1924.
Brearley played a significant role in the making of the United States Constitution. He was a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention and signed the Constitution on behalf of New Jersey. He was also a signer of the Declaration of Independence. At the Constitutional Convention, he served as Chairman of the Committee on Postponed Parts, which addressed questions related to taxes, war-making, patents, copyrights, and relations with Native American tribes. The committee also played a crucial role in shaping the presidency, including the method of choosing the president and the vice-presidency if no candidate had an Electoral College majority.
In addition to his role in shaping the Constitution, Brearley had a distinguished legal and military career. He studied law and practiced in Allentown, New Jersey. He served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey from 1779 to 1789 and made several important rulings, including the famous Holmes v. Walton case, where he established the principle of judicial review by declaring that the judiciary had the authority to determine the constitutionality of laws. During the American Revolutionary War, Brearley served as a captain in the Monmouth County militia and rose to the rank of colonel in Nathaniel Heard's New Jersey militia brigade. He served in the New Jersey Line of the Continental Army from 1776 to 1779 and saw action at Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth.
Brearley's contributions to the formation of the United States were significant, and he is honoured as one of the country's Founding Fathers. His legacy is also remembered through institutions bearing his name, such as David Brearley High School in Kenilworth, New Jersey.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, David Brearly signed the Constitution on behalf of New Jersey.
David Brearly was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and served as Chairman of the Committee on Postponed Parts, also known as the Brearly Committee. The committee addressed several issues, including the powers of the Executive Branch and the Legislature, and the election of the President.
David Brearly's committee played a crucial role in shaping the final Constitution. In just under two weeks, the committee resolved several difficult and contentious issues, including the creation of a powerful president, the invention of the vice-presidency, and the establishment of the Electoral College.
David Brearly had a distinguished career as a lawyer, soldier, and politician. He served as Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, and signed the Declaration of Independence. He also served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and was a founding member of the Society of the Cincinnati in New Jersey.
