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'''William Ellery''' (December 22, 1727 – February 15, 1820) a founding father of [[America]], a [[lawyer]], a Supreme Court judge of [[Rhode Island]], represented Rhode Island in the [[Continental Congress]] in 1776 and signed the [[Declaration of Independence]] and the [[Articles of Confederation]].  

'''William Ellery''' (December 22, 1727 – February 15, 1820) was a Founding Father of [[America]], a [[lawyer]] and a Supreme Court judge of [[Rhode Island]].  He represented Rhode Island in the [[Continental Congress]] in 1776 and signed the [[Declaration of Independence]] and the [[Articles of Confederation]].  

==Early life==

==Early life==

William was born to the prominent Benjamin Ellery, who had immigrated from Bristol, [[England]]. He received much education from his father, a Harvard graduate. Like his father, William would also attend Harvard, at age 16. He became fluent in Greek and Latin. At age 20, William returned to his home in Newport and studied law. He worked as merchant, then a collector of customs, and later as the Clerk of the Rhode Island General Assembly.<ref>[http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/ellery.htm William Ellery, USHistory.org]</ref> In 1770, Ellery started his law practice at the age of 43.  Around the same time, Ellery became active with the [[Sons of Liberty]], which increased his prominence among those holding anti-British sentiments.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Bl4W-TKv2Q8C&pg=PA9]</ref>

William was born to the prominent Benjamin Ellery, who had immigrated from Bristol, [[England]]. He received much education from his father, a Harvard graduate. Like his father, William would also attend Harvard, at age 16. He became fluent in Greek and Latin. At age 20, William returned to his home in Newport and studied law. He worked as merchant, then a collector of customs, and later as the Clerk of the Rhode Island General Assembly.<ref>[http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/ellery.htm William Ellery, USHistory.org]</ref> In 1770, Ellery started his law practice at the age of 43.  Around the same time Ellery became active with the [[Sons of Liberty]], which increased his prominence among those holding anti-British sentiments.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Bl4W-TKv2Q8C&pg=PA9]</ref>

==Continental Congress==

==Continental Congress==