Malcolm Rivera
William Paterson was an Irish-born American jurist, statesman, lawyer, and Founding Father of the United States. He played a pivotal role in the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, where he introduced the New Jersey Plan, which called for a unicameral body with equal representation from each state. He was also a delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1776 and served as the first attorney general of New Jersey from 1776 to 1783. In addition to his legal and political career, Paterson served in the United States Senate from 1789 to 1790 and was the second governor of New Jersey from 1790 to 1793. He also served as an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1793 until his death in 1806. With his long career in law and politics, did William Paterson sign the Constitution?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 24 December 1745 |
| Place of Birth | County Antrim, Ireland |
| Immigration | 1747 |
| Education | Princeton University |
| Profession | Statesman, Lawyer, Jurist |
| Political Career | Senator (1789-1790), Governor of New Jersey (1790-1793), Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1793-1806) |
| Constitutional Role | Signer of the U.S. Constitution, Proposed the New Jersey Plan |
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What You'll Learn
William Paterson's early life
William Paterson, born on December 24, 1745, in County Antrim, Ireland, was the son of Richard Paterson, an Ulster Protestant. Richard Paterson was a travelling peddler of household goods who immigrated with his family to New Castle, Pennsylvania, in 1747, two years after William's birth. By 1750, Richard Paterson had purchased a general store in Princeton, which was located along the main road from New York to Philadelphia.
At the age of 14, William Paterson began his college education at Princeton, then known as the College of New Jersey. After graduating, he studied law under the guidance of prominent lawyer Richard Stockton and was admitted to the bar in 1768. He also maintained a connection to his alma mater, Princeton, and played a role in the founding of the Cliosophic Society alongside Aaron Burr.
Paterson's early involvement in politics and law began with his selection as the Somerset County delegate for the first three provincial congresses of New Jersey. As secretary of these congresses, he played a crucial role in recording the 1776 New Jersey State Constitution. This marked the beginning of his legal career, as he was subsequently appointed as the first attorney general of New Jersey, serving from 1776 to 1783. During this period, he established himself as one of the state's most prominent and successful attorneys.
In 1779, Paterson married Cornelia Bell, the daughter of a wealthy Somerset County landowner, John Bell. Together, they had three children: Cornelia Bell Paterson, Frances Van Paterson, and William Bell Paterson. Sadly, both Frances and Cornelia passed away in 1783, with Cornelia dying only a few days after giving birth to their only son, William. Following these tragic losses, Paterson threw himself into his legal work and remarried in 1784 to Euphemia White, starting a new chapter in his life.
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Paterson's career as a jurist
William Paterson, born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1745, had a long and illustrious career as a jurist. He immigrated to America with his family in 1747, settling in Princeton, New Jersey. He graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) and was admitted to the bar in 1768.
Paterson served as the Somerset County delegate for the first three provincial congresses of New Jersey. As secretary, he recorded the 1776 New Jersey State Constitution. He was then appointed as the first attorney general of New Jersey, serving from 1776 to 1783, establishing himself as one of the state's most prominent lawyers.
In 1787, Paterson headed the New Jersey delegation to the federal Constitutional Convention, where he played a pivotal role in advocating for the interests of small states. He proposed the New Jersey Plan, which called for equal representation among the states in Congress. This proposal was in opposition to the Virginia Plan, which favoured representation based on population. The final compromise resulted in the bicameral Congress structure we see today, with representation by population in the House of Representatives and equal representation of states in the Senate.
Paterson went on to become one of New Jersey's first U.S. senators, serving from 1789 to 1790. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he was instrumental in drafting the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established the federal court system. Notably, the first nine sections of this important law were written by Paterson himself.
In 1790, Paterson became the first person to resign from the U.S. Senate when he was appointed governor of New Jersey. During his tenure as governor, he continued to pursue his passion for legal matters. He codified the English statutes that had been in force in New Jersey before the Revolution, resulting in the Laws of the State of New Jersey. Additionally, he published a revision of the rules of the chancery and common law courts, which was later adopted by the New Jersey Legislature.
Paterson's career culminated in his service as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, a position he held from 1793 until his death in 1806. President George Washington nominated him to fill the vacancy left by Thomas Johnson. However, due to a technicality regarding the Judiciary Act of 1789, Washington withdrew the nomination the day after it was offered. Nonetheless, Paterson's extensive legal experience and contributions to the development of the U.S. legal system are undeniable.
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Paterson's role in the 1787 Constitutional Convention
William Paterson was an Irish-born American jurist, statesman, lawyer, and Founding Father of the United States. He played a significant role in the 1787 Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, where he represented the state of New Jersey.
Paterson's most notable contribution to the 1787 Constitutional Convention was his proposal of the New Jersey Plan, which advocated for equal representation among the states in Congress. The plan called for a unicameral legislative body, with each state having an equal voice, regardless of its size or population. This proposal was in direct opposition to the Virginia Plan, which favoured representation based on population. Paterson's plan was motivated by his concern for the power of small states and his belief in the primacy of law over governments.
In addition to his proposal of the New Jersey Plan, Paterson actively participated in the debates and discussions at the convention. He emphasised the want of power in the Convention and the unreadiness of the people to support a consolidated government. He also contended that the convention could not divide up the sovereignty of the states and that if there was to be one nation, the states must be unified. Paterson's arguments were captured in the notes of Madison, Pierce, King, and Yates, providing valuable insights into his thoughts and contributions during the convention.
After the Constitutional Convention, Paterson continued to play an active role in shaping the country's laws and political system. He served as a delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1776 and as the first attorney general of New Jersey from 1776 to 1783. He then represented New Jersey at the 1787 Philadelphia Convention, where his ideas and proposals left a lasting impact on the country's governance.
Overall, William Paterson's role in the 1787 Constitutional Convention was significant, particularly in shaping the representation of states in the legislative body. His ideas and contributions helped lay the foundation for the United States Constitution and established him as one of the key figures in the country's early political history.
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The New Jersey Plan
William Paterson, an Irish-born American jurist, was one of the framers of the U.S. Constitution and a Founding Father of the United States. He was also the head of the New Jersey delegation at the 1787 Philadelphia Convention, where he proposed the New Jersey Plan, which was intended to benefit smaller states such as New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland.
The plan consisted of nine resolutions: The first resolution advocated continuing the unicameral system of legislature but allowing for revisions. The second expanded Congress's powers to include the authority to collect import duties, raise taxes, and impose stamp taxes and postage. The third established the three-fifths rule, whereby three-fifths of the number of enslaved people in a state would be counted to determine its population for funding requests from Congress. The fourth resolution added an executive branch to be made up of multiple individuals, who could be removed by a majority vote of the states. The fifth provided for a federal judiciary appointed by the executive branch.
The sixth resolution stated that all Acts of Congress made pursuant to the Articles of Confederation should be the supreme law of the land, with state judges bound to uphold them. The seventh called for provision to be made for the admission of new states into the Union. The eighth resolution proposed a uniform rule of naturalization, and the ninth stated that citizens of each state should be treated equally in state criminal courts.
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Paterson's legacy
William Paterson's legacy is that of a Founding Father of the United States, with his name carried by the city of Paterson, New Jersey, and William Paterson University. He was a lawyer, jurist, statesman, and signer of the United States Constitution, playing a leading role in the opposition of small states to representation according to population in the federal legislature.
Paterson was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1745, and immigrated to America with his family in 1747, settling in Princeton, New Jersey. He graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) and was admitted to the bar in 1768 after studying law under Richard Stockton. He served twice in the provincial congress (1775–76), was a delegate to the state constitutional convention (1776), and from 1776 to 1783 was the first attorney general of New Jersey, establishing himself as one of the state's most prominent lawyers.
In 1787, Paterson headed the New Jersey delegation to the federal Constitutional Convention, where he proposed the New Jersey Plan, also known as the Paterson Plan. This plan advocated for a unicameral legislative body with equal representation from each state, as an alternative to the Virginia Plan, which was based on population. The issue was ultimately resolved with a compromise: representation by population in the House of Representatives and equality of states in the Senate. Paterson was instrumental in securing the ratification of the final document in New Jersey and was elected as one of the state's first two US senators, serving from 1789 to 1790.
Paterson became the first person to resign from the US Senate when he stepped down to become the second governor of New Jersey, serving from 1790 to 1793. As governor, he pursued his interest in legal matters by codifying English statutes that had been in force in New Jersey before the Revolution. He also published a revision of the rules of the chancery and common law courts, which was later adopted by the New Jersey Legislature.
In 1793, Paterson was appointed as an associate justice of the US Supreme Court, a position he held until his death in 1806. He was also elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1789 and as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1801.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, William Paterson signed the Constitution in September 1787.
William Paterson played a pivotal role in the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. He introduced the New Jersey Plan, which called for a unicameral body with equal representation from each state.
William Paterson served as a delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1776 and was the first attorney general of New Jersey from 1776 to 1783. He was a senator from 1789 to 1790 and the governor of New Jersey from 1790 to 1793. He also served as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1793 until his death in 1806.
William Paterson was born in County Antrim, Ireland, on December 24, 1745. He immigrated to America with his family in 1747 and settled in Princeton, New Jersey. He graduated from Princeton University (then known as the College of New Jersey) in 1763 and studied law.
William Paterson is also known for his contributions to the primacy of law over governments, a principle embodied in the Constitution. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1789 and as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1801.
