Omar Bennett
George Read, born in 1733, was a Founding Father of the United States. He was a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787 and helped draft the United States Constitution. Read was also a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the author of the first Constitution of Delaware in 1776. He served as Chief Justice of the State of Delaware until his death in 1798.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | George Read |
| Born | 18 September 1733 |
| Birthplace | Family farm near North East, Cecil County, Maryland |
| Education | School in Chester, Pennsylvania; Philadelphia Academy under Doctor Allison at New London; Admitted to the Philadelphia Bar in 1753 |
| Political Party | Federalist Party |
| Political Career | Continental Congressman from Delaware; Delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787; President of Delaware; U.S. Senator from Delaware; Chief Justice of Delaware; Founding Father of the United States |
| Signed | The original Petition to the King of the Congress of 1774; The Declaration of Independence; The Constitution of the United States |
| Died | 21 September 1798 |
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What You'll Learn
George Read's political career
George Read was born on September 18, 1733, on his family's farm near North East, Cecil County, Maryland. He began his political career in 1765 after being elected to the Assembly of the Lower Three Counties Upon Delaware, a position he held until 1776. In 1764, he joined the Delaware Committee of Correspondence and was active in the patriot movement. He served as a member of the Continental Congress from 1775 to 1777. Notably, Read voted against the vote of independence on July 2, 1776, but nevertheless signed the Declaration of Independence.
In 1779, he suffered a bout of poor health and had to retire from official duties. However, he recovered and was appointed Judge in the Court of Appeals for admiralty cases three years later. Read went on to be twice elected State Senator under the new constitution and later served as President of Delaware. He was a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787 and helped draft the United States Constitution. After the United States Constitution was ratified in 1789, he became a United States Senator. He was a member of the Pro-Administration Party majority in the First and Second Congress, under President Washington. He supported the assumption of state debts, the establishment of a national bank, and the imposition of excise taxes.
Read served in the United States Senate representing Delaware from 1790 to 1793. He resigned from the Senate in 1793 to accept an appointment as Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court, serving in that capacity until his death on September 21, 1798. He is buried in Immanuel Episcopal Church Cemetery.
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George Read's stance on independence
George Read was a Founding Father of the United States, and his stance on independence was complex. Initially, he voted against independence in 1776, hoping for reconciliation with Great Britain. However, he eventually signed the Declaration of Independence, believing that reconciliation with the British crown was impossible. From that point on, he was a committed supporter of measures on behalf of the national cause.
Read was a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787 and played a significant role in drafting the United States Constitution. He was also the author of the first Constitution of Delaware in 1776 and guided the passage of the McKean-drafted document, which became the Delaware Constitution. He served as President of Delaware from 1777 to 1778 and later became a United States Senator from Delaware after the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1789.
Read's commitment to independence came at a personal cost. During the Revolutionary War, his home was confiscated by the British, his wife was taken captive, and he was forced to move from place to place to avoid capture himself for six years. Despite these challenges, he remained dedicated to the cause and introduced a resolution to Congress threatening traitors to the Declaration with public infamy.
As a statesman, Read signed all three or four of the great state papers on which the country's history is based: the original Petition to the King of the Congress of 1774, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of the United States. In addition, he may have signed the Continental Association passed by the Congress of 1774. This makes him one of only two or possibly the only southern statesman to have done so.
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George Read's personal life
George Read was born on September 18, 1733, on his family farm near North East, Cecil County, Maryland. He was the son of John and Mary (Howell) Read. John Read was born in Dublin, Ireland, and moved to New Castle County, Delaware, with his family when George was an infant.
Read attended a school in Chester, Pennsylvania, and then the Philadelphia Academy under Doctor Allison at New London. At fifteen, he graduated and proceeded to study law at the office of John Moland in Philadelphia. He was admitted to the Philadelphia Bar in 1753 and moved to New Castle, Delaware, to establish a new practice the following year. In 1763, he married Gertrude Ross Till, with whom he had four children: John, George Jr., William, and Mary.
Read established quite a reputation in New Castle and was appointed Attorney General to three Delaware counties in 1763. He resigned this position in 1774 when he was elected to the first Continental Congress. He was a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787 and was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He also served as president of Delaware, U.S. Senator from Delaware, and chief justice of Delaware.
Read is described as having been tall, graceful, with strong but refined features, and dark brown eyes. His manners were dignified, formal, yet courteous and captivating. He was a Founding Father of the United States and played a significant role in the country's history, signing four of the great state papers: the Petition to the King and Continental Association of 1774, the Declaration of Independence of 1776, and the Constitution of the United States in 1787. He served as chief justice of the State of Delaware until his death in 1798.
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George Read's legacy
George Read was a Founding Father of the United States and a key figure in the history of Delaware. Read's legacy is defined by his commitment to the national cause and his dedication to public service, law, and friendship.
Born in 1733 on a family farm in Maryland, Read studied law and established a legal practice in New Castle, Delaware. He was appointed Attorney General to three Delaware counties and was a member of the Delaware Committee of Correspondence, advocating for the patriot movement in the years leading up to the American Revolution. Despite initial hesitancy towards independence, Read ultimately signed the Declaration of Independence and became a fervent supporter of the national cause.
Read's dedication to friendship is exemplified by his support for John Dickenson, the "Penman of the Revolution." Despite Dickenson's refusal to sign the Declaration of Independence, Read's influence helped restore his social and political standing. Read's own commitment to independence came at a personal cost: during the war, his home was confiscated, his wife was taken captive, and he was forced to live in hiding for six years.
Read played a significant role in the development of the United States Constitution, serving as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. He was also instrumental in drafting the Delaware Constitution of 1776 and guiding the passage of the McKean-drafted document. Following the ratification of the US Constitution, Read was elected as one of Delaware's first US Senators and served in this role until his resignation in 1793.
In addition to his legislative work, Read held various judicial positions throughout his career. He served as a Judge in the Court of Appeals, was twice elected State Senator, and was appointed Chief Justice of the State of Delaware, a position he held until his death in 1798. Today, Read is commemorated for his contributions to the founding of the nation, with a statue in the National Constitution Center and a plaque on Signers' Walk in Philadelphia.
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George Read's role in Delaware
George Read was born on September 18, 1733, on his family's estate in Cecil County, Maryland. When he was a child, his family moved to New Castle County, Delaware, settling near the village of Christiana. He attended school in Chester, Pennsylvania, and later studied law in Philadelphia with John Moland. He was admitted to the Philadelphia Bar in 1753 and returned to Delaware the following year to establish a practice in New Castle.
Read began his political career in 1765 after being elected to the Assembly of the Lower Three Counties Upon Delaware, a position he held until 1776. In 1764, he joined the Delaware Committee of Correspondence and was active in the patriot movement. He was elected to serve in the First and Second Continental Congresses from 1774 to 1777. Despite his initial hesitation towards independence, Read ultimately signed the Declaration of Independence and became a strong supporter of measures on behalf of the national cause.
Read played a significant role in the formation of the state of Delaware. He was a delegate to the convention that drafted the Delaware Constitution of 1776 and was elected to the first Legislative Council of the Delaware General Assembly. He served as president of Delaware from 1777 to 1778 and again from 1787 to 1789. During his time in office, he faced challenges due to the ongoing Revolutionary War and insurrection in Delaware. He also struggled financially as he relied on his law practice for income.
After the ratification of the United States Constitution, Read was elected as one of Delaware's first United States Senators in 1789. He served in the Senate until his resignation in 1793 to accept an appointment as Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court, a position he held until his death in 1798.
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Frequently asked questions
George Read was an American politician from New Castle in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a Founding Father of the United States and a Continental Congressman from Delaware.
No, George Read did not sign the US Constitution. However, he did help draft it at the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
George Read signed the Declaration of Independence, the original Petition to the King of the Congress of 1774, and the Constitution of the United States in 1787.
George Read was the author of the first Constitution of Delaware in 1776. He also served as Chief Justice of the State of Delaware until his death in 1798.
George Read was a member of the Federalist Party. He served with the Pro-Administration Party majority in the First and Second Congress, under President Washington.
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