|
The Age of George III |
I am happy that you are using this web site and hope that you found it useful. Unfortunately, the cost of making this material freely available is increasing, so if you have found the site useful and would like to contribute towards its continuation, I would greatly appreciate it. Click the button to go to Paypal and make a donation.
I am grateful to Joe Dickerson for supplying this page.
| 1732 | Born, November 13, in Talbot County, Maryland |
| 1741 | Moved to Kent County, Delaware, near Dover, now "The Dickinson Plantation" |
| 1750 | Age 18, began study of law with John Moland in Philadelphia |
| 1753 | Continued study of Law at London's Middle Temple; admitted to Delaware Bar. |
| 1757 | Returned to Philadelphia to practice law. |
| 1759 | Elected to the Assembly of the Lower Three Counties (Delaware). |
| 1760 | Became Speaker of the Assembly of the Lower Three Counties. |
| 1761 | Served in the Pennsylvania legislature; chosen its representative to the Stamp Act Congress and the "Continental Congress" |
| 1762 | Served in both Pennsylvania. and Delaware Assemblies |
| 1764 | Lost the Pennsylvania legislature seat because of his defence of the proprietary government against Benjamin Franklin's faction. |
| 1765 | Played a key role in debates over the Stamp Act. Wrote The Late Regulations Respecting the British Colonies Considered, urging repeal of the Stamp Act. |
| 1767 | Wrote for the Pennsylvania Chronicle the series of articles known
as Letters
from a Farmer in Pennsylvania attacking British taxation policies. Emphasized the possibility of a peaceful resolution. He became the "first native political hero," and was awarded the LLD degree from the College of New Jersey (Princeton) , and Paul Revere engraved his likeness. |
| 1768 | Championed colonial resistance to taxes inform of non-importation and non-exportation agreements. |
| 1770 | Married Mary Norris, daughter of wealthy merchant Isaac Norris (of five children, only daughters Sally and Maria survived to maturity) |
| 1774 | Though unpopular because of his opposition to use of force, he chaired the Philadelphia Committee of Correspondence. |
| 1775 | After Lexington and Concord he still worked for peace, but held rank
of colonel in the First Battalion recruited to defend Philadelphia. Served in the Second Continental Congress and wrote "Declaration of the Causes of Taking up Arms." |
| 1776 | Spring of 1776, he stayed at Poplar Hall, his home near Dover, DE. Part
of his reason for opposing separation from Britain was "that the States
had no settled governments of their own, had received no foreign aid, and
had not yet set up a working confederation." Knowing well that his
action would be devastating to his standing, he did
not sign the Declaration
of Independence. Nevertheless. he became one of only two contemporary congress members who entered military service in the Pennsylvania militia. Resigned |
| 1777 | In August, with Lord Howe marching troops toward Philadelphia, he enlisted
as a private under command of Gen. Caesar Rodney, but saw no action. In October, his home, "Fairhill," was burned during the Battle of Germantown. He freed all the slaves at Poplar Hall in Delaware. |
| 1779 | He helped draft the Articles of Confederation and signed them. Poplar Hall was plundered by Tories who looted or destroyed silver chests, meat, wine, etc. |
| 1781 | Chosen Governor (President) of Delaware. |
| 1782-85 | Served as Governor of Pennsylvania. He donated 500 acres in Adams and Cumberland Counties to create Dickinson College near Carlisle. Gave 1500 books to that college's library. |
| 1786 | Elected President of the Annapolis Convention |
| 1787 | Helped draft the U.S. Constitution, and signed it for Delaware. |
| 1792-94 | Elected to the Delaware State Senate. He owned 1,279 acres in Pennsylvania. and 5,587 acres in Delaware. He furthered the cause of abolition of slavery. Much of his wealth was donated to "relief of the unhappy." He helped pay for neighbours' children's education, prison relief and other charities. |
| 1801 | Published two volumes of his collected works on politics. |
| 1803 | Wife Mary died on July 23. |
| 1804 | Poplar Hall burned; afterwards he lived in Wilmington. corner of 8th & Market. |
| 1808 | On February 14, 1808, age 75, he died, was buried in Friends Burial Ground in Wilmington |
Dr Thomas Wynne (1627-92)
Friends' minister and physicial to William Penn, first Speaker of the Pensylvania
legislature
Mary Wynne (1659-1726)
married - in 1677
Dr Edward Jones (1645-1736)
Dr Jones led the First Company of Welsh Quakers into Lower Merion
Martha Jones (c. 1678-1747)
married - in 1699
John Cadwalader
(c. 1677-1734)
John was a schoolmaster in Merion, and later a merchnt. He was prominent in political circles
Mary Cadwalader (1700-1776)
married - in 1731
Samuel Dickinson (1689-1760
Samuel was a wealthy Quaker tobacco planter and merchant who moved from maryland
to Delaware to become a judge.
John Dickinson (1732-1808)
| Meet the web creator | These materials may be freely used for
non-commercial purposes in accordance with applicable statutory allowances
and distribution to students. |
Last modified
12 January, 2016
|