Signer of US Constitution. He was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the fifth of seven children. In 1771 he graduated from what is today known as Princeton University and eight years later began practicing law, after being accepted to the Delaware bar. Following the Revolutionary War he became a leader in the framing of the young nation's new constitution. He served in the Continental Congress from 1783 to 1785 and was Delaware's State Attorney General from 1784 to 1789. At the Constitutional Convention he became a passionate advocate in his desire to protect the powers of the small states, even threatening to seek alliances with foreign powers to make sure the rights and sovereignty of the small states were guarded. His efforts helped the new nation adopt what was known as "The Great Compromise", which established two legislative bodies, one whose representation was based on population and another whose representation was equal. In 1789 he was appointed a Federal District Judge for Delaware, a position he held until his death. He used his position to fight for the abolition of slavery and the need to have a strong education system.
Signer of US Constitution. He was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the fifth of seven children. In 1771 he graduated from what is today known as Princeton University and eight years later began practicing law, after being accepted to the Delaware bar. Following the Revolutionary War he became a leader in the framing of the young nation's new constitution. He served in the Continental Congress from 1783 to 1785 and was Delaware's State Attorney General from 1784 to 1789. At the Constitutional Convention he became a passionate advocate in his desire to protect the powers of the small states, even threatening to seek alliances with foreign powers to make sure the rights and sovereignty of the small states were guarded. His efforts helped the new nation adopt what was known as "The Great Compromise", which established two legislative bodies, one whose representation was based on population and another whose representation was equal. In 1789 he was appointed a Federal District Judge for Delaware, a position he held until his death. He used his position to fight for the abolition of slavery and the need to have a strong education system.
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