Changes

<ref>http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/constitution/bio6.htm</ref>

<ref>http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/constitution/bio6.htm</ref>

==Early Life==

==Early life==

Brearley, sometimes also spelled as Brearly, was descended from a Yorkshire, England, family, one of whose members migrated to New Jersey around 1680. Signer Brearly was born on June 11th, 1745<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=v4hCAAAAIAAJ&dq=1745+june Framers of the Constitution]</ref> at Spring Grove near Trenton, New Jersey.  He was reared in the area, and around the year 1763 he attended but did not graduate from the nearby College of New Jersey (later [[Princeton University|Princeton]]). He chose law as a career and originally practiced at Allentown, NJ, and in a few years stood foremost at the bar of his native State.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=cMhJAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA175 The United States Manual of Biography and History: To which is Prefixed An Introductory History of the United States]</ref>. About 1767 he married Elizabeth Mullen.

Brearley, sometimes also spelled as Brearly, was descended from a Yorkshire, England, family, one of whose members migrated to New Jersey around 1680. Signer Brearly was born on June 11, 1745<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=v4hCAAAAIAAJ&dq=1745+june Framers of the Constitution]</ref> at Spring Grove near Trenton, New Jersey.  He was reared in the area, and around the year 1763 he attended but did not graduate from the nearby College of New Jersey (later [[Princeton University|Princeton]]). He chose law as a career and originally practiced at Allentown, NJ, and in a few years stood foremost at the bar of his native State.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=cMhJAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA175 The United States Manual of Biography and History: To which is Prefixed An Introductory History of the United States]</ref> About 1767 he married Elizabeth Mullen.

==Career==

==Career==

In 1789 he was appointed by [[President Washington]], chief justice of the State of New Jersey, which office he held with distinguished honour to himself and his country until his death, which took place at his seat, near Trenton, August 23, 1790, in the twenty-seventh year of his age. Mr. Brearley was cut off in the bloom of his powers, and when the highest hopes were entertained of his future usefulness. To have reached the position of chief justice at the age of twenty-six years, was an almost unprecedented instance of the triumph of youthful genius, and sufficient of itself to inspire his friends with glorious anticipations. As an advocate he was always eloquent and forcible; and as a judge he was learned and impartial.

In 1789 he was appointed by [[President Washington]], chief justice of the State of New Jersey, which office he held with distinguished honour to himself and his country until his death, which took place at his seat, near Trenton, August 23, 1790, in the twenty-seventh year of his age. Mr. Brearley was cut off in the bloom of his powers, and when the highest hopes were entertained of his future usefulness. To have reached the position of chief justice at the age of twenty-six years, was an almost unprecedented instance of the triumph of youthful genius, and sufficient of itself to inspire his friends with glorious anticipations. As an advocate he was always eloquent and forcible; and as a judge he was learned and impartial.

==Personal Life==

==Personal life==

When free from his judicial duties, Brearly devoted much energy to lodge and [[church]] affairs. He was one of the leading members of the [[Masons|Masonic Order]] in New Jersey, as well as state vice president of the Society of the Cincinnati, an organization of former officers of the Revolutionary War. In addition, he served as a delegate to the Episcopal General Conference (1786) and helped write the church's prayer book. In 1783, following the death of his first wife, he had married Elizabeth Higbee.

When free from his judicial duties, Brearly devoted much energy to lodge and [[church]] affairs. He was one of the leading members of the [[Masons|Masonic Order]] in New Jersey, as well as state vice president of the Society of the Cincinnati, an organization of former officers of the Revolutionary War. In addition, he served as a delegate to the Episcopal General Conference (1786) and helped write the church's prayer book. In 1783, following the death of his first wife, he had married Elizabeth Higbee.

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==External Links==

==External links==

*http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/RevWar/ss/brearly.htm

*http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/RevWar/ss/brearly.htm

*http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/constitution/bio6.htm

*http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/constitution/bio6.htm

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[[Category: Founding Fathers]]

[[Category:Founding Fathers]]