Omar Bennett
William Richardson Davie (1756-1820) was an American Founding Father, statesman, politician, military general, and 10th Governor of North Carolina. He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, representing North Carolina, and a member of the Federalist Party. Davie supported the ratification of the Constitution, particularly a strong central government, and played a crucial role in breaking the deadlock between small and large states over legislative representation. He voted for the Great Compromise, which provided for representation based on population in the House and equal state representation in the Senate. Despite his early departure from the convention, Davie actively promoted the Constitution's ratification in North Carolina, attending the Hillsborough and Fayetteville conventions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Supported the Constitution | Yes |
| Served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention | Yes |
| Represented North Carolina at the convention | Yes |
| Supported plans for a strong central government | Yes |
| Supported the Great Compromise | Yes |
| Supported election of senators and presidential electors by the legislature | Yes |
| Insisted on counting slaves in determining representation | Yes |
| Fought for the Constitution's ratification | Yes |
| Played a prominent part in the North Carolina convention | Yes |
| Supported public education | Yes |
| Helped establish the first public university in the US | Yes |
| Served as governor of North Carolina | Yes |
| Remained active in the state militia and the US Army | Yes |
| Was a Founding Father of the United States | Yes |
| Was a member of the Federalist Party | Yes |
| Retired from politics in 1805 | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
William Richardson Davie was a Founding Father of the United States
William Richardson Davie, born on June 20, 1756, in County Cumberland, England, was a Founding Father of the United States. He was the son of Scottish Presbyterians Archibald and Mary Richardson, who moved to the Waxhaw region near Lancaster, South Carolina, in 1764.
Davie received his early education at Queen's Museum, later known as Liberty Hall, in Charlotte. He then attended the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), graduating with honors in 1776. During the Revolutionary War, he fought with courage and suffered a severe wound at the Battle of Stono Ferry in 1779. After recovering from his injuries, Davie resumed his military service and played a crucial role in harassing British forces occupying South Carolina.
Following the war, Davie entered politics as a Federalist. He was one of the few foreign-born delegates at the Constitutional Convention in 1787, where he played a pivotal role in breaking the deadlock between small and large states over legislative representation. Davie favored a strong central government and served on the committee that addressed the issue of representation in Congress. He voted for the Great Compromise, which provided for representation based on population in the House of Representatives and equal state representation in the Senate. This made North Carolina the only large state to support the compromise and helped resolve the impasse.
In addition to his political career, Davie is also known as the "Father of the University" of North Carolina. He was a key founder of the university, selecting its location, recruiting faculty, and shaping its curriculum. He was also a proponent of public education and played a role in establishing the Warrenton Academy. Davie served as the 10th Governor of North Carolina from 1798 to 1799 and remained active in the state militia and the newly formed United States Army. He died on November 29, 1820, at his Tivoli estate in Chester County, South Carolina.
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He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention
William Richardson Davie (1756-1820) was an American Founding Father, statesman, politician, military general, and delegate to the Constitutional Convention. He was born in England and immigrated to the American colonies in 1764, settling in South Carolina. Davie received his education at Princeton University, graduating in 1776, after which he joined the Revolutionary War effort. He fought with courage and distinction, despite being severely wounded in 1779, and later served as a general during the Quasi-War with France.
Davie's political career began as a Federalist. He represented North Carolina in the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where he played a crucial role in breaking the deadlock between large and small states over legislative representation. Davie was a member of the committee that considered representation in Congress, and his vote for the Great Compromise swung the North Carolina delegation in favor of it. This compromise provided for representation based on population in the House and equal representation for states in the Senate.
Although Davie did not sign the Constitution due to his departure from the convention before its end, he actively supported its ratification. He participated in the North Carolina conventions in Hillsborough in 1788 and Fayetteville in 1789, advocating for the Constitution's adoption. Despite facing opposition at Hillsborough, the Fayetteville convention ultimately approved the Constitution. Davie's contributions to the Constitutional Convention and its aftermath demonstrated his commitment to shaping the nation's future through effective governance.
In addition to his political career, Davie is also known for his interest in education. He was a key founder of the University of North Carolina, where he had a hand in selecting the location, instructors, and curriculum. He served as the institution's virtual president in its early years. Furthermore, Davie advocated for public education and helped establish the Warrenton Academy in 1786. His dedication to education left a lasting impact on the state and its educational institutions.
William Richardson Davie's role as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention was significant, and he actively shaped the course of history during the formation of the United States. His contributions to governance and education continue to leave a lasting legacy in North Carolina and beyond.
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He supported a strong central government
William Richardson Davie (1756-1820) was an American Founding Father, statesman, politician, military general, and 10th Governor of North Carolina from 1798 to 1799. He was a member of the Federalist Party and a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, representing North Carolina.
During the Constitutional Convention, Davie favored a strong central government. He actively supported the ratification of the Constitution and played a prominent role in the North Carolina convention. Davie was a member of the committee tasked with considering the issue of representation in Congress. He voted for the Great Compromise, which provided for representation based on population in the House of Representatives and equal state representation in the Senate. This compromise was crucial in breaking the deadlock between large and small states.
Davie's support for a strong central government is further evidenced by his preference for the election of senators and presidential electors by the legislature. He also insisted on counting slaves when determining representation. His contributions to the Constitutional Convention were significant, despite his early departure before the final adjournment.
Davie's commitment to a strong central government extended beyond the Constitutional Convention. He actively participated in Federalist politics and was a key founder of the University of North Carolina, demonstrating his enduring interest in education. Additionally, he served in the state militia and the newly formed United States Army, further contributing to his legacy as a supporter of a robust central government.
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He voted for the Great Compromise
William Richardson Davie (1756-1820) was an American Founding Father, statesman, politician, military general, and lawyer. He was a member of the Federalist Party and served as the 10th Governor of North Carolina from 1798 to 1799.
Davie was a delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention, where he played a crucial role in shaping the Great Compromise regarding congressional representation. The Great Compromise addressed the issue of how states would be represented in Congress, as small and large states had differing views on representation. The compromise proposed by Connecticut's Oliver Ellsworth suggested proportional representation in the House and equal representation for each state in the Senate. This compromise was instrumental in breaking the deadlock and moving the Constitutional Convention forward.
Davie strongly supported and voted for the Great Compromise because it aligned with his interests and those of his colleagues, Goudy and Jones, who relied on enslaved people to work their fields and maintain their homes. The compromise included the Three-Fifths Compromise, which counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of representation in the House. This benefited slaveholding states like North Carolina, as it gave them more representation without requiring them to provide political rights to the people they enslaved.
Davie's support for the Great Compromise demonstrated his belief in the importance of balancing the interests of small and large states in the new nation. By voting for this compromise, he helped pave the way for the creation of a more unified and representative government under the Constitution.
After the Constitutional Convention, Davie returned to North Carolina and continued to work for the approval of the Constitution in his state. He attended the state constitutional conventions of 1788 and 1789, where his efforts contributed to the eventual ratification of the federal constitution.
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He was a key founder of the University of North Carolina
William Richardson Davie (1756–1820) was an American Founding Father, statesman, politician, military general, and governor of North Carolina. He was born in England to Scottish parents and immigrated to the American colonies in 1764, settling in South Carolina.
Davie played a crucial role in the establishment of the University of North Carolina, and is considered its principal founder. He sponsored legislation to charter the university in 1789, making it the first public university in the United States. Davie served on the University's Board of Trustees from 1789 to 1807 and remained an active advisor to the university administration even while serving as governor and after leaving the country to become Minister to France. He also helped select the Chapel Hill location, recruit faculty, and promote an updated curriculum. In recognition of his contributions, Davie received the first honorary doctorate awarded by the University of North Carolina in 1811.
In addition to his role as a founder of the University of North Carolina, Davie was also a delegate to the Constitutional Convention as a representative of North Carolina. He argued for the passage of the Constitution at the North Carolina State Conventions in 1788 and 1789 and served as the state's governor during a period of boundary dispute resolutions with neighbouring states.
Davie's legacy is commemorated in North Carolina through the naming of Davie County, schools in Davie County and Roanoke Rapids, and a park in Mecklenburg County. His Tivoli plantation, where he died in 1820, is now part of the Landsford Canal State Park in South Carolina.
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Frequently asked questions
William Richardson Davie (1756-1820) was an American statesman, politician, military general, and Founding Father of the United States. He served as the 10th Governor of North Carolina from 1798 to 1799.
Yes, Davie was a member of the Federalist Party.
Yes, Davie supported the Constitution. He served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention as a representative of North Carolina and argued for its passage at the North Carolina State Conventions in 1788 and 1789.
Davie was one of five North Carolina delegates to the Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the committee that considered the question of representation in Congress. He voted for the Great Compromise, which provided for representation based on population in the House of Representatives and state equality in the Senate.
No, Davie did not sign the Constitution. He left the convention early on August 13, before its adjournment, to attend to legal business.
