Charles Thomson
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| Charles Thomson | |
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| Born | November 29, 1729 Maghera, Ireland |
| Died | August 16, 1824 (aged 94) Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania |
Charles Thomson (November 29, 1729 – August 16, 1824) was a Patriot leader in Philadelphia during the American Revolution and the secretary of the Continental Congress (1774–1789) throughout its existence.
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[edit] Going to America
Charles Thomson was born in 1729 on November 29 in Maghera, Co. Derry, Ireland. Both of his parents were Scots-Irish. In 1739, when he was ten years old, his mother died. He and his father went to the British colonies in America with three other brothers. His father died at sea. Charles and his brothers were left penniless. When they finally arrived in America, they were all separated. Charles lived with a blacksmith in New Castle, Delaware. He was educated in New London, Pennsylvania. In 1750, he became a tutor in Latin at the Philadelphia Academy.
[edit] French And Indian War
During the French and Indian war, Charles was an opponent of the Pennsylvania proprietors’ American Indian policies. He serves as secretary at the treaty of Easton. He wrote An Enquiry into the causes of the Alienation of the Delaware and Shawnese Indians from the British Interest. In that book, he blamed the war on the proprietors. He was allied with Benjamin Franklin, who was then the leader of the anti-proprietary party. The two men parted politically during the Stamp Act crises in 1765. Thomson became a leader of Philadelphia’s Sons of Liberty.
Charles was a leader in the Revolutionary crisis of the early 1770’s. John Q. Adams called him the Samuel Adams of Philadelphia. Charles served as the secretary of the Continental Congress through its entirety. During those 15 years, the Congress saw many delegates come and go. Charles dedication to recording these debates and decisions provided continuity. Along with John Hancock, who was the then president of Congress, Charles appeared on the first published version of the Declaration of Independence in July of 1776.
[edit] An Act of Congress
Charles’ role as secretary to Congress was not limited to clerical duties. According to biographer Boyd Schlenter, Charles took a direct role in the conduct of foreign affairs. Fred S. Rolater suggested that Charles was essentially the Prime Minister of the United States. Charles is also noted for designing, along with William Barton, the great Seal of the United States. The Great Seal played a prominent role in the January 14, 1784 ratification of the Treaty of Paris. Britain’s representatives in Paris initially disputed the placement of the Great Seal and President Mifflin’s signature, until mollified by Franklin.
Charles service was not without criticism. James Searle was a close friend of John Adams. James began a cane fight on the floor of Congress against Charles over a claim that he was misquoted in the Minutes that resulted in both men being slashed in the face. Such brawls on the floor were not uncommon. Many of them were promoted by argument over Charles’ recordings. Political disagreements prevented Thomson from getting a position in the new government created by the United States Constitution. Charles resigned as secretary of Congress in July of 1789. He handed over the Great Seal. That brought an end to the Continental Congress.
[edit] Final Years
He spent his final years working on a translation of the Bible. Charles is now on the seven-cent postal card. That was issued in 1975. He was portrayed in the 1969 stage play and the 1972 film 1776 by Ralston Hill. When he was 94 he died in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania on August 16, 1824.
[edit] Quick Review
Thomson was born in Gorteade townland, Maghera parish, County Londonderry, Ireland, to Scots Irish parents. After the death of his mother in 1739, his father emigrated to the British colonies in America with Charles and two or three brothers. The father died at sea, and the penniless boys were separated in America. Charles was cared for by a blacksmith in New Castle, Delaware, and was educated in New London, Pennsylvania. In 1750 he became a tutor in Latin at the Philadelphia Academy.
During the French and Indian War, Thomson was an opponent of the Pennsylvania proprietors' American Indian policies. He served as secretary at the Treaty of Easton (1758), and wrote An Enquiry into the Causes of the Alienation of the Delaware and Shawanese Indians from the British Interest (1759), which blamed the war on the proprietors. He was allied with Benjamin Franklin, the leader of the anti-proprietary party, but the two men parted politically during the Stamp Act crisis in 1765. Thomson became a leader of Philadelphia's Sons of Liberty.
Thomson was a leader in the revolutionary crisis of the early 1770s. John Adams called him the "Samuel Adams of Philadelphia". Thomson served as the secretary of the Continental Congress through its entirety. Through those 15 years, the Congress saw many delegates come and go, but Thomson's dedication to recording the debates and decisions provided continuity. Along with John Hancock, president of the Congress, Thomson's name (as secretary) appeared on the first published version of the Declaration of Independence in July 1776.
Thomson's role as secretary to Congress was not limited to clerical duties. According to biographer Boyd Schlenther, Thomson "took a direct role in the conduct of foreign affairs." Fred S. Rolater has suggested that Charles Thomson was essentially the "Prime Minister of the United States" (The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 101, 1977). Thomson is also noted for designing, with William Barton, the Great Seal of the United States. The Great Seal played a prominent role in the January 14, 1784 (Ratification Day) ratification of the Treaty of Paris.[1] Britain's representatives in Paris initially disputed the placement of the Great Seal and President Mifflin's signature, until mollified by Franklin.[2]
But Thomson's service was not without its critics. James Searle, a close friend of John Adams, and a delegate, began a cane fight on the floor of Congress against Thomson over a claim that he was misquoted in the "Minutes" that resulted in both men being slashed in the face. Such brawls on the floor were not uncommon, and many of them were promoted by argument over Thomson's recordings. Political disagreements prevented Thomson from getting a position in the new government created by the United States Constitution. Thomson resigned as secretary of Congress in July 1789 and handed over the Great Seal, bringing an end to the Continental Congress. He spent his final years working on a translation of the Bible.
Thomson is depicted on the seven-cent postal card (and postal reply card), Scott Nos. UX68 and UY 25, issued in 1975. He was portrayed in the 1969 stage play and the 1972 film 1776 by Ralston Hill.
[edit] References
[edit] References
[edit] Further reading
- Schlenther, Boyd Stanley. "Thomson, Charles". American National Biography Online, February 2000.
[edit] External links
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A Compendium of Irish Biography article Charles Thomson |
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