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'''Nathaniel Gorham''' (b. May 27, 1738; d. June 11, 1796) was the fourteenth President of the [[Continental Congress]].  He was also a delegate to the [[Constitutional Convention]] of 1787, a signer of the [[United States Constitution]], and a member of the [[Federalist Party]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=xCUmAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA141 The Federalist Party in Massachusetts to the Year 1800]</ref>

'''Nathaniel Gorham''' (May 27, 1738 – June 11, 1796) was the fourteenth President of the [[Continental Congress]].  He was also a delegate to the [[Constitutional Convention]] of 1787, a signer of the [[United States Constitution]], and a member of the [[Federalist Party]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=xCUmAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA141 The Federalist Party in Massachusetts to the Year 1800]</ref>

==Early Life==

==Early life==

Gorham was born in Charleston, [[Massachusetts]], on May 27, 1738, the son of Nathaniel and Mary (Soley) Gorham.<ref name=cyclopedia>[https://books.google.com/books?id=U11DAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA525 The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography: Being the History ..., Volume 2]</ref>

Gorham was born in Charleston, [[Massachusetts]], on May 27, 1738, the son of Nathaniel and Mary (Soley) Gorham.<ref name=cyclopedia>[https://books.google.com/books?id=U11DAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA525 The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography: Being the History ..., Volume 2]</ref>

==Career==

==Career==

He won the esteem of his fellow citizens, and was elected representative to the general court of Massachusetts from 1771 to 1775,<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=GqAsAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA184 Bench and Bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Volume 2]</ref><ref name=cyclopedia /> at a time when the spirit of resistance to tyranny was just beginning to ferment in the bosom of the Bay State men, preparing them for the stirring events of Concord and Lexington and Bunker Hill.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=1DMFAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA85 Souvenir and Official Programme of the Centennial Celebration of George Washington's Inauguration as First President of the United States]</ref>

He won the esteem of his fellow citizens, and was elected representative to the general court of Massachusetts from 1771 to 1775,<ref name=cyclopedia /><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=GqAsAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA184 Bench and Bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Volume 2]</ref> at a time when the spirit of resistance to tyranny was just beginning to ferment in the bosom of the Bay State men, preparing them for the stirring events of Concord and Lexington and Bunker Hill.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=1DMFAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA85 Souvenir and Official Programme of the Centennial Celebration of George Washington's Inauguration as First President of the United States]</ref>

He was also a delegate to the provincial congress from 1774-75, and then again a member of the Massachusetts legislature. From 1778 until its dissolution in 1781 he was a member of the state board of war. In 1779 he served in the Massachusetts state Constitutional Convention.<ref name=cyclopedia />

He was also a delegate to the provincial congress from 1774–75, and then again a member of the Massachusetts legislature. From 1778 until its dissolution in 1781 he was a member of the state board of war. In 1779 he served in the Massachusetts state Constitutional Convention.<ref name=cyclopedia />

===Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention===

===Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention===

After the conclusion of the Convention, he served as a judge of the Massachusetts court of common pleas, his term lasting from 1785 to 1791.<ref>[http://history.house.gov/People/Listing/G/GORHAM,-Nathaniel-%28G000325%29/ GORHAM, Nathaniel]</ref>

After the conclusion of the Convention, he served as a judge of the Massachusetts court of common pleas, his term lasting from 1785 to 1791.<ref>[http://history.house.gov/People/Listing/G/GORHAM,-Nathaniel-%28G000325%29/ GORHAM, Nathaniel]</ref>

==Later Life==

==Later life==

He retired from public life after the adoption of the constitution. In 1788, in association with Oliver Phelps of Suffield, Massachusetts, and others, he purchased from the state of Massachusetts the premption right of that state in all, and to all, that part of Western New York lying between Seneca Lake on the east, the Genesee river on the west, Pennsylvania on the south and Lake Ontario on the north, estimated to contain about 2,200,000 acres and known as the “Phelps and Gorham purchase.”

He retired from public life after the adoption of the constitution. In 1788, in association with Oliver Phelps of Suffield, Massachusetts, and others, he purchased from the state of Massachusetts the premption right of that state in all, and to all, that part of Western New York lying between Seneca Lake on the east, the Genesee river on the west, Pennsylvania on the south and Lake Ontario on the north, estimated to contain about 2,200,000 acres and known as the “Phelps and Gorham purchase.”

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[[Category:Founding Fathers]]

[[Category:Founding Fathers]]

[[Category:American Revolution]]

[[Category:American Revolution]]