Eleanor Finch
Hugh Williamson (1735–1819) was an American Founding Father, physician, and politician. He is best known for signing the U.S. Constitution and representing North Carolina at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. Williamson was a scholar and educator who played a significant role in the American Revolution and the political and intellectual life of the new nation. His experiences during the Revolution convinced him of the importance of a strong central government, and he worked tirelessly for the ratification of the Constitution, both at the national level and in his home state of North Carolina.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Hugh Williamson |
| Birthplace | West Nottingham Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania |
| Birthdate | December 5, 1735 |
| Death Date | May 22, 1819 |
| Occupation | Educator, Physician, Legislator, Merchant, Scientist, Scholar, Founding Father, Politician |
| Known For | Signing the U.S. Constitution, representing North Carolina at the Constitutional Convention |
| Roles | Trustee of the University of North Carolina, Delegate to the Continental Congress, North Carolina Legislator |
| Political Views | Federalism, Anti-Slavery |
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What You'll Learn
Hugh Williamson's life and career
Hugh Williamson, born on December 5, 1735, in West Nottingham Township, Pennsylvania, was an American Founding Father, physician, educator, legislator, merchant, scientist, scholar, and politician. He was the oldest of ten children born to John W. Williamson, a clothier by trade, and Mary Davison, who had immigrated to America from Ireland.
Williamson's father, wanting to provide him with a liberal education, sent him to Francis Alison's New London Academy and, later, to the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania), where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1757. After teaching at Philadelphia Academy, Williamson pursued theology and studied with the Reverend Samuel Finley in West Nottingham. He then moved to Connecticut, where he obtained a preacher's license. However, due to his disillusionment with factional disputes within the Presbyterian Church and a resurgence of ill health, he decided to leave the ministry and study medicine.
In 1760, Williamson received a master's degree from the College of Philadelphia and began teaching there while studying medicine. He sailed to Scotland in 1763 and studied consecutively in Edinburgh, London, and Utrecht, receiving his medical degree in 1764. He returned to Philadelphia to open a private medical practice and pursue independent scientific and educational projects, which led to his membership in the American Philosophical Society and acclaim in European intellectual circles.
Williamson's interest in science and education indirectly led him to politics and the Patriot cause. In 1773, while sailing to England to raise funds for a local educational project, he witnessed the Boston Tea Party, a protest against a newly enforced Parliamentary tax on imported commodities. In London, he was summoned before the Privy Council to testify on the act of rebellion and colonial affairs. His testimony brought him to the attention of other Americans in London, including Benjamin Franklin, with whom he collaborated to appeal for support among sympathetic Englishmen.
During the American Revolution, Williamson contributed his skills as a physician and natural scientist to the American war effort. He travelled to the Netherlands but returned to Philadelphia when the Declaration of Independence was signed. He briefly worked as a merchant in Charleston before eventually settling in Edenton, North Carolina, where he practised medicine and worked as a tanner and shipbuilder. He became involved in politics, advocating for a strong central government and interstate cooperation. In 1786, he attended the Annapolis Convention, and in 1787, he was appointed to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, where he actively participated in debates and signed the Constitution for North Carolina.
After the Convention, Williamson continued to work for the ratification of the Constitution in North Carolina. He served in the Continental Congress and was elected to the First and Second Congresses from North Carolina. He retired from political life after his second term and moved to New York City, where he resumed his intellectual pursuits, writing numerous scholarly works, including a two-volume "History of North Carolina" (1812). Williamson passed away suddenly in 1819, leaving behind a legacy as a signatory to the U.S. Constitution and a leading intellectual of his time.
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The Constitutional Convention
Williamson's journey towards the Constitutional Convention began with his appointment to the Annapolis Convention in 1786, where he was one of five delegates tasked with addressing economic and trade issues affecting the middle Atlantic states. However, he arrived on the day of adjournment and thus missed the proceedings. This setback did not deter him, and in March 1787, he was appointed to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
At the Constitutional Convention, Williamson was an active participant. He served on five committees, proposed twenty-three motions, and delivered over seventy speeches. One of his notable contributions was proposing an impeachment procedure for the chief executive, demonstrating his commitment to accountability and good governance. Additionally, Williamson endorsed a six-year term for US senators and supported the Three-Fifths Compromise, which counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of representation and taxation.
Williamson's stance on slavery is a point of interest. While he favoured the extension of slavery until a future date to ensure all states could accept the Constitution, he also signed the Constitution as a representative of North Carolina, a state that opposed slavery. This apparent contradiction can be understood in the context of the Three-Fifths Compromise, which was designed to balance the interests of larger and smaller states.
Williamson's influence extended beyond the Convention. He worked tirelessly for the ratification of the Constitution, both at the Second Constitutional Convention in Fayetteville in 1789 and through his writings. Notably, he authored the "Letters of Sylvius," a series of public letters advocating for a strong federal system and addressing the practical concerns of his state.
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The Annapolis Convention
Twelve delegates from five states—New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia—attended the convention. Notably, George Washington did not attend, but he played a pivotal role in its conception and the realisation of its formative recommendations through the precedent set by the 1785 Mount Vernon Convention, which settled a heated debate between Maryland and Virginia regarding the commercial and navigational use of the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River.
The delegates at the Annapolis Convention realised that the issue of trade touched upon many other aspects of the Confederation and that a future meeting with a broader scope was necessary to address the problems adequately. The final report of the convention, authored by Alexander Hamilton, called for a broader constitutional convention to be held in Philadelphia, expressing hope for greater representation from the states. This report was adopted unanimously and sent to the Congress of the Confederation and the states, leading directly to the 1787 Philadelphia Convention, where the United States Constitution was drafted.
North Carolina chose Hugh Williamson to attend the Annapolis Convention, but he arrived on the day of adjournment, too late to play a role in the proceedings. However, he went on to actively participate in the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia the following year, signing the Constitution for North Carolina.
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The ratification of the Constitution
The convention was presided over by George Washington, who ensured that delegates remained open to compromise in order to achieve a stronger national government. The convention concluded on September 17, 1787, with the signing of the new U.S. Constitution by 38 out of 41 delegates present. Under Article VII, the document would only become binding once it was ratified by nine of the 13 states.
The ratification process was not without opposition. Some states voiced concerns over the lack of protection for certain rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and press. However, amendments were promised to address these concerns, and the first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, and the Constitution became the official framework of the U.S. government.
Hugh Williamson, a physician, educator, legislator, merchant, scientist, scholar, and Founding Father, played a significant role in the ratification process. He represented North Carolina at the Constitutional Convention and was an active participant in the debates, contributing over 70 speeches. He also wrote a series of public letters, known as the "Letters of Sylvius," defending a strong federal system and urging North Carolinians to support the Constitution. Williamson continued to work for the ratification of the Constitution in his state and made the initial motion to adopt the document at the Second Constitutional Convention in Fayetteville in 1789.
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Williamson's motivations for signing the Constitution
Hugh Williamson's motivations for signing the Constitution were likely influenced by his experiences during the American Revolution and his belief in the importance of a strong central government. Williamson, an American Founding Father, physician, and politician, represented North Carolina at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
Williamson's support for a strong central government can be traced to his experiences during the 1780 and 1781 campaigns in the Carolinas, where he witnessed the pressing need for interstate cooperation and the military importance of a unified nation. He recognized that a strong central government was crucial for protecting and fostering the political, economic, and intellectual future of the newly formed United States.
Williamson's rootless upbringing, which saw him live in three different regions of the country, also shaped his nationalistic outlook. This, coupled with his wartime service with interstate military forces and his understanding of the interests of planters and merchants in his constituency, reinforced his support for a unified nation.
Additionally, Williamson's intellectual pursuits and exposure to leading intellectuals of the Patriot cause influenced his thinking. As a scholar and educator, he contributed to various scholarly works and joined learned societies. His erudition and acute mind, recognized by Thomas Jefferson, likely informed his decision-making during the Constitutional Convention.
Williamson actively participated in the debates at the Convention, serving on multiple committees, offering motions, and delivering speeches. He proposed compromises, such as an impeachment procedure for the chief executive and a six-year term for US senators, that ultimately facilitated the ratification of the Constitution. His "Letters of Sylvius" series, written during the Convention, addressed the practical concerns of his state and explained the benefits of a strong federal system.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Hugh Williamson signed the Constitution for the state of North Carolina.
Hugh Williamson signed the Constitution because he believed that a strong central government was needed to protect and foster the political, economic, and intellectual future of the new nation.
Hugh Williamson was an American Founding Father, physician, educator, merchant, scientist, scholar, legislator, and politician. He also served as one of the original trustees of the University of North Carolina.
Williamson was a leading intellectual in Revolutionary and post-Revolutionary America. He served on five committees, offered 23 motions, and delivered over 70 speeches. He proposed an impeachment procedure for the chief executive and endorsed a six-year term for US senators. He also supported the Three-Fifths Compromise, which counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of population counts.
