Joseph Reed (jurist)

Joseph Reed
3rd President of Pennsylvania
In office 1 December 1778 – 15 November 1781
Preceded by	George Bryan
Succeeded by	William Moore
Member, Continental Congress
In office 1778 – ?
Personal details
Born	August 27, 1741(1741-08-27) Trenton, New Jersey
Died	March 1785, 8(08-03-1785) Philadelphia
Spouse(s)	Esther de Berdt
Profession	statesman, lawyer, military officer
Signature

Joseph Reed (August 27, 1741 – March 5, 1785) was a Pennsylvania lawyer, military officer, and statesman of the Revolutionary Era. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and, while in Congress, signed the Articles of Confederation. He served as President of Pennsylvania's Supreme Executive Council, a position analogous to the modern office of Governor.

Early life

Reed was born in Trenton, New Jersey, the son of Andrew Reed, a shopkeeper and merchant, and Theodosia Bowes. His brother, Bowes Reed (1740–1794), would serve as a colonel in the Revolutionary War and as Secretary of State of New Jersey. The family moved to Philadelphia shortly after his birth. The early education of Joseph was of particular importance to his father, who enrolled the boy at Philadelphia Academy, later to be known as the University of Pennsylvania. He received his bachelor's degree from Princeton University and soon after began his professional education under Richard Stockton. In the summer of 1763 he sailed for England, where for two years he continued his studies in law at Middle Temple in London. During the course of his studies, he became romantically attached to Esther de Berdt, the daughter of the agent for the Province of Massachusetts Bay, Dennis de Berdt. De Berdt, though very fond of Joseph, initially refused his consent for Esther to marry, knowing of Reed's intention to return to Philadelphia. Reed returned to the Colonies with only a tenuous engagement to Esther, and with the understanding that he would soon return to settle permanently in Great Britain. After the death of his father, Reed finally returned to London, to find that Esther's father had died during his crossing. They married in May 1770 at Saint Luke's, Cripplegate, near the City of London. Finding the de Berdt family in financial difficulties, Reed remained in London long enough to help in settling de Berdt's affairs. Esther and Joseph sailed for North America in October of that year, along with the widowed Mrs de Berdt.

Political career

At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, Reed had a successful Philadelphia law practice, which he resigned at the request of George Washington in order to serve him in the capacity of secretary and aide-de-camp. In 1775, Reed held the rank of colonel. Reed served as aide to Washington, who had, prior to the creation of the Continental Navy, commissioned a small fleet of ships to interfere with British shipping as part of the siege of Boston.

On October 20, 1775, Reed wrote a famous letter to Colonel John Glover of the "Marblehead Men" Regiment of seamen in the Continental Army setting the design of the First Navy Flag, the Evergreen Tree of Liberty flag. Colonel Glover was the owner of the Hannah (named for his wife) and was the action officer along with Stephen Moylan for commissioning the other first Navy ships, (Franklin, Hancock, Harrison, Lee, Lynch, Warren, and Washington) often called the "Washington Cruisers". Reed wrote: "What do you think of a Flag with a white Ground, a tree in the middle, the motto: 'Appeal to Heaven'."

In 1776, Reed served as Adjutant-General of the Continental Army. In 1777, Reed was offered the positions of brigadier general and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania —both of which he declined. In December 1776, General Washington, anxious to know the location of General Charles Lee's forces, opened a letter from Lee to Reed which indicated they were both questioning Washington's abilities. This was extremely disconcerting to Washington as Reed was one of his most trusted officers. Reed continued to serve in the army without pay until the close of the war. With fewer than 3 years in the Continental Army, Reed is not listed as a Propositi of the Society of the Cincinnati. Though he took part in many military engagements in the northern and eastern theaters of the war, he was never wounded. He was elected to Congress in 1778, while also serving Pennsylvania as President (Governor). When offered a bribe of £10,000 sterling, and the most valuable office in the colonies to promote the cause of colonial reconciliation with the British crown, Reed's reply was, "I am not worth purchasing; but, such as I am, the King of Great Britain is not rich enough to do it."

Reed's loyalty is contrasted to the treason of Benedict Arnold. As a delegate to the Continental Congress, Reed accused Arnold of malpractices of his military duties while in command at Philadelphia. The trial that largely exonerated Arnold was strongly opposed by other members of Congress.

In 1778, Reed was one of the five delegates from Pennsylvania to sign the Articles of Confederation. On December 1, 1778, he was elected President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, a position analogous to the modern office of governor. Reed received 61 of the 63 votes cast and took office immediately. George Bryan, acting president since the death of Thomas Wharton on 23 May, received only one vote for President but was re-elected to the Vice-Presidency in similarly one-sided voting. Reed was reelected to the Presidency twice—on November 11, 1779 and November 14, 1780—each time defeating William Moore, the second time by a vote of 59 to 1. Reed's third and final term came to a close 15 November 1781, when he was succeeded by William Moore.

Reed's antipathy to Pennsylvania's Loyalist residents has been well attested by historic sources. While in Congress, he advocated seizure of Loyalist properties and trying those aligned with Great Britain for treason. Reed and his family themselves lived in a confiscated Loyalist home. Congress as a whole had a much more tolerant outlook regarding Loyalist citizens. While President of Pennsylvania he oversaw numerous trials of suspected Loyalists. After James Wilson defended 23 people accused of treason, a mob—stirred up by Reed's speeches and liquor—attacked Wilson at the Battle of Fort Wilson; only the arrival of cavalry saved Wilson and his friends; Reed pardoned and released the remaining rioters.

Reed's term as President of Pennsylvania corresponded to the time where America's fortunes during the war went from near desolation at Valley Forge in December 1777 to May 1778, to victory at Yorktown on October 19, 1781. Working with James Madison in the Continental Congress, a bill was passed that allowed General Anthony Wayne to gather the resources in Pennsylvania that were necessary for the Pennsylvania Line to march to Yorktown to help surround the army of Charles Cornwallis.

Death

In 1784, he visited England in hopes of improving his health but to no avail. He returned to Pennsylvania and died in Philadelphia on March 5, 1785, aged 43.

References

• W. B. Reed, The Life and Correspondence of Joseph Reed, (two volumes, Philadelphia, 1847), by Reed's grandson
• George Bancroft, Joseph Reed, An Historical Essay (New York, 1867), in which Reed is presented in an unfavorable light. New International Encyclopedia

External links

• Joseph Reed (jurist) at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Biographic sketch of Esther de Berdt at White House website for children
• Biography and portrait at the University of Pennsylvania
• Joseph Reed (jurist) at Find a Grave

Political offices
Preceded by Thomas Wharton Jr.	Member, Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, representing the County of Philadelphia 24 November 1778—16 October 1781	Succeeded by John Bayard
Preceded by George Bryan	President of Pennsylvania 1 December 1778—15 November 1781	Succeeded by William Moore
Military offices
Preceded by Horatio Gates	Adjutant Generals of the U. S. Army June 5, 1776-January 22, 1777	Succeeded by Arthur St. Clair (acting)

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