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'''Thomas Fitzsimons''' (b. 1741; d. 26 August 1811) was a statesman, merchant, member of the [[Continental Congress]], [[Founding Father]], delegate to the [[Constitutional Convention]] for the state of [[Pennsylvania]], and signer of the [[Constitution]].  His name is also sometimes spelled '''Fitzsimmons'''.

'''Thomas Fitzsimons''' (1741 – 26 August 1811) was a statesman, merchant, member of the [[Continental Congress]], [[Founding Father]], delegate to the [[Constitutional Convention]] for the state of [[Pennsylvania]], and signer of the [[Constitution]].  His name is also sometimes spelled '''Fitzsimmons'''.

==Early Life==

==Early life==

Fitzsimons' family immigrated to [[Philadelphia]] in the mid-1750s. His father died shortly thereafter; young Thomas, upon completing his education, entered a counting-house as a clerk. <ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=F000178 FITZSIMONS, Thomas, (1741 - 1811)]</ref>  He married Catherine Meade on November 23, 1761.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=MaVJAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA199 Records of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia, Volume 3]</ref>  In 1763 Thomas went into business with his new brother-in-law, George Meade (the grandfather of [[Civil War]] [[General George Meade]]), specializing in trade with the West Indies.<ref name=army>[http://www.history.army.mil/books/RevWar/ss/fitzsimons.htm Thomas Fitzsimons]</ref>  When the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick was founded in 1771, Fitzsimons and Meade were among the first members.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=cHzxeLx6rVMC&pg=PA107 The American Catholic Historical Researches, Volumes 6-7]</ref>

Fitzsimons' family immigrated to [[Philadelphia]] in the mid-1750s. His father died shortly thereafter; young Thomas, upon completing his education, entered a counting-house as a clerk.<ref name="FITZSIMONS, Thomas, 1741–1811">[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=F000178 FITZSIMONS, Thomas, (1741 - 1811)]</ref>  He married Catherine Meade on November 23, 1761.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=MaVJAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA199 Records of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia, Volume 3]</ref>  In 1763 Thomas went into business with his new brother-in-law, George Meade (the grandfather of [[Civil War]] [[General George Meade]]), specializing in trade with the West Indies.<ref name=army>[http://www.history.army.mil/books/RevWar/ss/fitzsimons.htm Thomas Fitzsimons]</ref>  When the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick was founded in 1771, Fitzsimons and Meade were among the first members.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=cHzxeLx6rVMC&pg=PA107 The American Catholic Historical Researches, Volumes 6-7]</ref>

==Military Service==

==Military Service==

==Constitutional Convention==

==Constitutional Convention==

[[Image:Tom Fitzsimmons Parkway.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Fitzsimons statue on the Ben Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia]]

[[Image:Tom Fitzsimmons Parkway.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Fitzsimons statue on the Ben Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia]]

Fitzsimons was asked to represent Pennsylvania at the Federal [[Constitutional Convention]] in 1787. There, he argued strongly that the Federal government should have the ability to tax imports and exports.  Following the Convention, he signed the Constitution<ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=F000178 FITZSIMONS, Thomas, (1741 - 1811)]</ref> and was instrumental in advocating its ratification.<ref name=army />

Fitzsimons was asked to represent Pennsylvania at the Federal [[Constitutional Convention]] in 1787. There, he argued strongly that the Federal government should have the ability to tax imports and exports.  Following the Convention, he signed the Constitution<ref name="FITZSIMONS, Thomas, 1741–1811"/> and was instrumental in advocating its ratification.<ref name=army />

Other members of the Pennsylvania delegation to the Convention were [[George Clymer]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Jared Ingersoll]], [[Thomas Mifflin]], [[Gouverneur Morris]], [[Robert Morris]], and [[James Wilson]].

Other members of the Pennsylvania delegation to the Convention were [[George Clymer]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Jared Ingersoll]], [[Thomas Mifflin]], [[Gouverneur Morris]], [[Robert Morris]], and [[James Wilson]].

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[[Category:Founding Fathers]]

[[Category:Founding Fathers]]

[[Category:American Revolution]]

[[Category:American Revolution]]