Eleanor Finch
Thomas Fitzsimons was an Irish immigrant, merchant, and Founding Father of the United States who signed the US Constitution on September 17, 1787, at the age of approximately 46. He was one of two Catholic signers of the Constitution, the other being Daniel Carroll of Maryland. Fitzsimons entered politics in 1782 as a delegate to the Continental Congress and later served in the US House of Representatives from 1789 to 1795. He died on August 26, 1811, in Philadelphia, where he was buried in the cemetery of St. Mary's Catholic Church.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Thomas Fitzsimons |
| Birth Year | 1741 |
| Death | 26 August 1811 |
| Occupation | Merchant, Politician |
| Signatory to the US Constitution | Yes |
| Age at Signing | Approximately 46 |
| Immigrant Status | Yes |
| State Represented | Pennsylvania |
| Religion | Catholic |
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What You'll Learn
Thomas Fitzsimons was a delegate at the Constitutional Convention
Thomas Fitzsimons, born in Ireland in 1741, immigrated to Philadelphia, America, with his family in 1760. He was a merchant by profession and entered politics in 1782 as a delegate to the Continental Congress. He was also a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1789 to 1795.
Fitzsimons was not a leading member of the convention, but he supported a strong national government, the abolition of slavery, and the United States Congress's powers to impose a tariff on imports and exports. He also advocated granting the House of Representatives equal power to the United States Senate in making treaties. He was not a supporter of universal suffrage, based on debates during the convention.
After the Constitution was established, he served in the first three sessions of the House of Representatives as a Federalist. He was one of nine representatives to vote against the Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution. Fitzsimons failed to win re-election in 1794 and never held elective office again. He died on August 26, 1811, in Philadelphia, where he was buried in the cemetery of St. Mary's Catholic Church.
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He was one of two Catholics to sign the Constitution
Thomas Fitzsimons was a signatory to the United States Constitution, representing Pennsylvania at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. He was one of two Catholics to sign the Constitution, the other being Daniel Carroll of Maryland. Fitzsimons, who was born in Ireland in 1741, settled in Philadelphia with his family around 1760. He established a successful mercantile business with his brother-in-law, George, focused on trade with the West Indies.
Fitzsimons entered politics in 1782 as a delegate to the Continental Congress and served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1786 until 1795. He was a strong supporter of the Patriot cause during the early days of the American Revolution and became a captain in the local militia, serving in the Battle of Trenton. He also served on various committees, including the Philadelphia committee of correspondence, the council of safety, and the navy board.
As a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, Fitzsimons actively participated in the debates and drafting of the Constitution. He advocated for a strong national government, the abolition of slavery, and the authorization of Congress to impose tariffs on imports and exports. He also supported granting equal powers to the House of Representatives and the Senate in treaty-making. While he was not a leading member of the convention, his influence and contributions were significant.
After the Constitution was established, Fitzsimons served in the first three sessions of the House of Representatives as a Federalist. He favoured protective tariffs and a strong navy, co-drafting the 1794 law authorizing the original six frigates of the United States Navy. Fitzsimons failed to win re-election in 1794 and did not hold elective office again. However, he remained active in business and civic activities, serving as the head of a committee of merchants overseeing a subscription loan to build a warship during the Quasi-War. Fitzsimons died on August 26, 1811, in Philadelphia, and was buried in the cemetery of St. Mary's Catholic Church.
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Fitzsimons supported a strong national government
Thomas Fitzsimons was a supporter of a strong national government. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1782 and 1783, and a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1789 to 1795. He also served as a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention in 1787, where he represented Pennsylvania and helped to debate, draft, and sign the United States Constitution.
Fitzsimons was one of only two Catholics to sign the Constitution, the other being Daniel Carroll of Maryland. He supported a strong national government, the abolition of slavery, and the authorization of Congress to impose tariffs on imports and exports. He also advocated for granting the House of Representatives equal power to the Senate in treaty-making. Fitzsimons believed that the national government should have the power to support the military, and he agreed with the idea of providing similar treatments and powers for the Senate and the House.
In addition to his political career, Fitzsimons was also a successful merchant. He immigrated to Philadelphia in 1760 and started a mercantile business with his brother-in-law, George Meade. Their business focused on trade with the West Indies and became very successful. However, when the British attempted to enforce their authority over the American colonies, Fitzsimons's business was impacted. He protested the British taxes and advocated for independence. When the Revolutionary War began, he fought in the local militia and participated in the Battle of Trenton.
After the Constitution was established, Fitzsimons continued to serve in politics. He served in the first three sessions of the House of Representatives as a Federalist, where he favored protective tariffs and a strong navy. He co-drafted the 1794 law authorizing the original six frigates of the United States Navy. Despite his many contributions, Fitzsimons was not a leading member of the Constitutional Convention, and he was not a supporter of universal suffrage.
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He was against universal suffrage
Thomas Fitzsimons was a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1782 and 1783. He was also a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention in 1787, where he represented Pennsylvania. Although he was not a leading member of the convention, he supported a strong national government, the end of slavery, and the United States Congress's powers to impose a tariff on imports and exports. He also believed that the House of Representatives should have equal power to the United States Senate in making treaties.
Based on debates during the convention, Thomas Fitzsimons was against universal suffrage. He was one of two Catholic signers of the United States Constitution, the other being Daniel Carroll of Maryland. Fitzsimons was a supporter of the military and was open about his agreement on not dissolving the army until necessary.
Fitzsimons was born in Ireland in 1741 and immigrated to America around 1760, settling in Philadelphia with his family. He started a mercantile business with his brother and became very successful. However, his business was impacted by the British's attempts to enforce their authority over the American colonies. Fitzsimons protested the British taxes and advocated for independence. When the Revolutionary War began, he fought in the local militia and participated in the Battle of Trenton.
After the Constitution was established, Fitzsimons served in the first three sessions of the House of Representatives as a Federalist. He favored protective tariffs and a strong navy, co-drafting the 1794 law authorizing the original six frigates of the United States Navy. He was one of nine representatives to vote against the Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Fitzsimons failed to win re-election in 1794, losing to John Swanwick, who carried 57% of the vote. This was partially due to public opinion turning against the Federalist Party over the forceful suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion. Although he never held elective office again, Fitzsimons remained active in business and civic activities. He served as the head of the committee of merchants overseeing the subscription loan to build a warship for use in the Quasi-War.
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Fitzsimons was a merchant and politician
Thomas Fitzsimons was a merchant and politician who lived from 1741 until August 26, 1811. He is known for signing the United States Constitution and serving as a U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania.
Fitzsimons was born in Ireland and immigrated to Philadelphia, America, with his family in 1760. In Philadelphia, he started a mercantile business with his brother-in-law, George, and they became very successful. However, their business was impacted by the British's attempts to enforce authority over the American colonies. Fitzsimons protested the British taxes and advocated for independence. When the Revolutionary War began, he fought in the local militia and participated in the Battle of Trenton.
Fitzsimons entered politics in 1782 as a delegate to the Continental Congress. He was a supporter of the Whig position and served as a captain in the home guards company during the Revolution. Fitzsimons was also a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1786 or 1789 until 1795. In 1787, he was a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and represented Pennsylvania. Although not a leading member, he actively participated in the debates and supported a strong national government, the abolition of slavery, and the authorization of Congress to impose tariffs on imports and exports. He also advocated for granting the House of Representatives equal power to the Senate in making treaties.
After the Constitution was established, Fitzsimons served in the first three sessions of the House of Representatives as a Federalist. He favored protective tariffs and a strong navy and co-drafted the 1794 law authorizing the original six frigates of the U.S. Navy. He was one of nine representatives to vote against the Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution. Fitzsimons failed to win re-election in 1794 and did not hold elective office again. However, he remained active in his business and civic activities. He served as the head of the committee of merchants overseeing the subscription loan to build a warship during the Quasi-War in 1798. He also held positions such as the president of the Chamber of Commerce in Philadelphia and the director of the North America Bank.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Thomas Fitzsimons signed the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787, at the age of approximately 46.
Fitzsimons supported a strong national government, the end of slavery, and the United States Congress's powers to impose a tariff on imports and exports. He also believed that the House of Representatives should have equal power to the United States Senate in making treaties.
Fitzsimons was born in Ireland in 1741 and immigrated to Philadelphia, America, with his family in 1760. He was a merchant and politician, and he started a mercantile business with his brother in Philadelphia. He entered politics in 1782 as a delegate to the Continental Congress and later served in the United States House of Representatives from 1789 to 1795.
