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He attended public schools in Charleston, and after serving an apprenticeship with Nathaniel Coffin at New London, Conn., Nathaniel subject engaged in mercantile pursuits in his native town,<ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=G000325 GORHAM, Nathaniel, (1738 - 1796)]</ref> becoming one of the most eminent public men of his day.

He attended public schools in Charleston, and after serving an apprenticeship with Nathaniel Coffin at New London, Conn., Nathaniel subject engaged in mercantile pursuits in his native town,<ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=G000325 GORHAM, Nathaniel, (1738 - 1796)]</ref> becoming one of the most eminent public men of his day.

==Career==

==Career==

===Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention===

===Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention===

Nathaniel Gorham was a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1782, 1783, 1786, 1787, and 1789, and was its president from June 6, 1786, to February 2, 1787.  He also served as a delegate to the [[Constitutional Convention]] at Philadelphia in 1787, and frequently presided over convention sessions.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=cMhJAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA165 The United States Manual of Biography and History: To which is Prefixed An Introductory History of the United States]</ref>  Other members of the Massachusetts delegation to the Convention were [[Elbridge Gerry]], [[Rufus King]], and [[Caleb Strong]].

Nathaniel Gorham was a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1782, 1783, 1786, 1787, and 1789, and he was President of the Continental Congress from June 6, 1786, to February 2, 1787.  He also served as a delegate to the [[Constitutional Convention]] at Philadelphia in 1787, and frequently presided over convention sessions.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=cMhJAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA165 The United States Manual of Biography and History: To which is Prefixed An Introductory History of the United States]</ref>  Other members of the Massachusetts delegation to the Convention were [[Elbridge Gerry]], [[Rufus King]], and [[Caleb Strong]].

While at the Convention, Washington called him to the chair when that body went into committee of the whole, and as such he presided over the convention during the greater part of its deliberations. The minutes of the convention show that he served on many of the sub-committees, and that he expressed his views with vigor during the many debates. He was a contemporary with Washington, Adams, Hancock, Jay, Clinton and others who shaped the destiny of the new nation, and the fact that he held so many important public offices at a time when no politics prevailed indicates that he was a man of high character, strict integrity and strong mental characteristics.<ref name=cyclopedia />

While at the Convention, Washington called him to the chair when that body went into committee of the whole, and as such he presided over the convention during the greater part of its deliberations. The minutes of the convention show that he served on many of the sub-committees, and that he expressed his views with vigor during the many debates. He was a contemporary with Washington, Adams, Hancock, Jay, Clinton and others who shaped the destiny of the new nation, and the fact that he held so many important public offices at a time when no politics prevailed indicates that he was a man of high character, strict integrity and strong mental characteristics.<ref name=cyclopedia />

==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.”

==Legacy==

==Legacy==

Nathaniel Gorham was married in 1763 to Rebecca Call, and had nine children: Collinsworth, Emily, Mary, Elizabeth, Ann, John, Benjamin, Stephen, Lydia.<ref>[http://www.nathanielgorham.com/p/rebecca-call-was-born-to-caleb-vall.html Rebecca Call Gorham]</ref>

Madison, Wisconsin, has numerous streets named after our Founding Fathers, including Gorham Street after Nathaniel Gorham.<ref>[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Content.aspx?dsNav=N:4294963828-4294963805&dsRecordDetails=R:CS304 Origins of Madison Street Names]</ref>  Gorham, New York, is also named after him.<ref>[http://www.gorham-ny.com/m/our-town.php Town of Gorham, New York - Our Town]</ref>

 

==References==

==References==