Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution, adopted in 1787, was signed by 39 people out of 55 attendees of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Two of these signers were from Georgia: Abraham Baldwin and William Few. Georgia initially elected six delegates to the convention, four of whom attended, and only two of whom signed the final document.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Signers from Georgia | 2 |
| Names of Signers from Georgia | Abraham Baldwin, William Few |
| Number of Delegates from Georgia | 6 |
| Number of Delegates from Georgia who attended | 4 |
| Names of Delegates from Georgia who did not sign | William Houston, William Leigh Pierce |
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What You'll Learn
Abraham Baldwin's role in the signing
Abraham Baldwin was a key figure in the signing of the U.S. Constitution, playing a pivotal role in the 1787 Constitutional Convention. As a delegate to the convention, he helped craft the compromise that resolved the controversial issue of representation in Congress, which threatened to derail the entire process. This compromise, known as the "Great Compromise", ensured equal representation in the Senate and representation based on population in the House of Representatives.
Baldwin's wisdom and leadership were instrumental in fostering discussions that led to this compromise, securing his legacy as a Founding Father. He was also part of the committee that navigated the transition from the Articles of Confederation to the new government under the Constitution. His working copy of the Constitution, complete with handwritten notes, is preserved in the collections of the Georgia Historical Society.
Baldwin's background as a theologian, Christian preacher, lawyer, and chaplain in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War equipped him with a diverse skill set. He moved to Georgia in the mid-1780s, where he was recognised as a leader, filling a much-needed role in the state's governance. He was actively involved in politics, advocating for education and serving as a delegate to the Congress of the Confederation and the Constitutional Convention.
In addition to signing the Constitution, Baldwin founded the University of Georgia, becoming its first president. He was also a United States Senator from Georgia, serving from 1799 until his death in 1807. During his tenure, he served as President pro tempore of the United States Senate from 1801 to 1802. Abraham Baldwin's contributions to the signing of the Constitution and his role in shaping education in America cement his place in the nation's history.
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William Few's military and political career
There were two signers of the US Constitution from Georgia: William Few and James Gunn.
William Few's Military Career
William Few Jr. was born into a poor yeoman farming family in 1748. He was one of the first men to enlist in the volunteer militia or "minute men" company formed in Hillsborough, where he received tactical instruction from a veteran of the French and Indian Wars. In 1775, Few rejected the offer of a captaincy in one of the first units North Carolina raised for the Continental Army, instead joining his relatives in Georgia the following year.
Few joined the Richmond County Regiment, commanded by his older brother Benjamin. For the next two years, his military duties consisted of instructing his friends and neighbours in the military skills he had acquired in North Carolina. In 1778, Few was called to active duty when Georgia faced the threat of invasion by British and Loyalist troops based in Florida. Few, in command of a company of Georgia Militia, witnessed the collapse of the campaign's logistical support and the disintegration of the American invaders due to senior officers' infighting and disease.
Few's military service in the later years of the war was critical in frustrating British attempts to use Georgia as a base for conquering the rebellious colonies. Few's regiment played a prominent role in preventing the British from consolidating their position, and he emerged as a gifted administrator and logistics expert. He also became a bold, innovative partisan commander, displaying the raw physical stamina required to survive the serious hardships of guerrilla warfare.
William Few's Political Career
Like other Georgia signers, Few's military success opened the door to political service. In 1786, he was elected to represent Georgia at the 1787 Constitutional Convention, where he signed the US Constitution. Few continued to hold office in the newly formed legislature, serving as one of Georgia's first senators. When his congressional term ended in 1793, Few returned to Georgia and served as a federal judge for the Georgia circuit. He was also an advocate for education and a founding trustee of the University of Georgia in 1785.
Few moved to Manhattan in 1799, where he served in various political roles, including as a director and president of the City Bank of New York (now Citigroup). He also held positions in the New York State Assembly, as a city alderman, inspector of prisons, and the United States Commissioner of Loans. Few retired in 1815 and died in 1828.
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Button Gwinnett's signature
The signature of Button Gwinnett, one of the three Georgians to sign the US Constitution, is a notable and unique aspect of this historic document. Gwinnett was a prominent figure in Georgia's early history and his signature on the Constitution is a reminder of his contribution to the state and the nation.
Button Gwinnett was a British-American politician and soldier who played a significant role in the founding of the United States and the state of Georgia. He was born in Gloucestershire, England, in 1735 and emigrated to America in 1765, eventually settling in Georgia. Gwinnett became active in politics and was a strong advocate for independence from Britain. He represented Georgia in the Continental Congress and was the second person to sign the Declaration of Independence, following John Hancock.
Gwinnett's signature on the Constitution is particularly distinctive due to its unique spelling and style. He signed his name as "Btn Gwinnett," with a unique abbreviation of his first name and a distinctive, flowing script. His signature stands out among the other signatories and has become a source of fascination for historians and collectors alike. Over the years, Gwinnett's signature has gained significant value and is considered a rare and valuable artifact from the founding of the nation.
Beyond his signature, Button Gwinnett led a fascinating life. He served as the Governor of Georgia and played a pivotal role in the state's early development. However, his career was also marked by controversy and conflict. Gwinnett was involved in a power struggle with another prominent Georgian, Lachlan McIntosh, which ultimately led to a duel between the two men in 1777. Gwinnett was fatally wounded in the duel and became the only British-American founding father to die in a duel.
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George Walton's military and political career
Three men from Georgia signed the United States Declaration of Independence: George Walton, Button Gwinnett, and Lyman Hall. George Walton, a lawyer, served in the military and held various political offices throughout his career.
Walton was born in Virginia in 1749 and moved to Savannah, Georgia, in 1769 to pursue a legal career. By 1775, he had become a practicing attorney and was one of the most sought-out and prosperous lawyers in Savannah. As his professional success grew, Walton became involved with the young Whigs opposing British rule in America.
In July 1775, Walton was elected to the Provincial Congress and chosen for the Council of Safety in December. He also became a high-ranking officer in the Georgia militia, serving as colonel-commandant of the state militia and colonel of the First Regiment of the Georgia Militia. During the Battle of Savannah in 1778, Walton was wounded and taken prisoner by the British. He was released in October 1779.
After his release, Walton began a political transformation, switching from the conservative to the radical faction. He was elected governor of Georgia in 1779 and served until 1789. During his tenure, Walton negotiated a treaty with the Cherokee in 1783, served as a member of the Augusta Board of Commissioners from 1784 to 1785, and helped settle the border dispute between South Carolina and Georgia in 1786.
In addition to his military and political career in Georgia, Walton also served in numerous other capacities. He was a delegate to the Second Continental Congress, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, state supreme court chief justice, and a United States Senator. He was appointed to the US Senate in November 1795 to fill a vacancy and served until February 1796. Walton also played a role in the Yazoo land sales, a massive real estate fraud perpetrated in the mid-1790s.
Walton devoted himself to Georgia state politics during the 1780s and was elected to a second term as governor in 1789. After completing his tenure, he served as a judge of the superior court until his death.
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Lyman Hall's background
Lyman Hall was one of three Georgians and one of four doctors to sign the Declaration of Independence. He was born in Wallingford, Connecticut, on April 12, 1724, as the fourth of eight children. He graduated from Yale College in 1747 and went on to study theology under the guidance of his uncle, a reverend. He migrated to South Carolina and established himself as a physician in Dorchester, near Charleston. When Congregationalist migrants moved to the Midway District (now Liberty County) in Georgia, Hall accompanied them and became one of the leading citizens of the newly founded town of Sunbury.
On the eve of the American Revolution, St. John's Parish, where Sunbury was located, was a hotbed of radical sentiment. Hall, with his Congregationalist preacher's background, became the leader and spokesman for the Puritan agitation in the parish. Through his influence, St. John's Parish was persuaded to send a delegate to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, despite Georgia not being initially represented. Hall himself was admitted to a seat in Congress in 1775.
In January 1779, Sunbury was burned by the British, and Hall's property was destroyed. He fled to Charleston, which was also overtaken, and then to Connecticut, where he was harbored by family. He returned to Georgia in 1782 and was elected to the House of Assembly in 1783. He served as governor for one year and advocated for the chartering of a state university, which led to the founding of the University of Georgia in 1785. After his term as governor, he resumed his medical practice and moved to a plantation in Burke County, Georgia, where he died in 1790 at the age of 66.
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Frequently asked questions
Only two of the 39 signers of the US Constitution were from Georgia: Abraham Baldwin and William Few.
Georgia elected six delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The other four were William Houston, William Leigh Pierce, George Walton, and Lyman Hall.
Abraham Baldwin was a wise, kind, and intelligent leader who played a pivotal role in the Constitutional Convention. He helped to create a compromise that led to the method of representation in Congress. This compromise secured his legacy as a Founding Father.
William Few Jr. had a successful military career before entering politics. He served as a lieutenant colonel during the Revolutionary War. After signing the Constitution, he went on to become one of Georgia's first senators and a federal judge for the Georgia circuit. He was also an advocate for education and a founding trustee of the University of Georgia.
Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the US Constitution on January 2, 1788. The state's signature was significant because it represented the revolutionary changes that were occurring in America at the time.
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