Difference between revisions of "Joseph Hewes"
(Created page with 'right|200px|thumb| Joseph Hewes '''Joseph Hewes''' (b. January 23, 1730; d. November 10, 1779) is a founding father of America, he was a wealthy mer...') |
m (→Politics) |
||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
==Politics== | ==Politics== | ||
| − | Hewes was against any talk of succession, he was to represent the colonies grievences between Motherland Britain and [[British American]] citizens. His committee would draft the following {{cquote|State the rights of the colonies in general, the several instances in which these rights are violated or infringed, and the means most proper to be pursued for obtaining a restoration of them.}} The royal governor disbanded the assembly and Hewes would now be a delegate to the Continental Congress. His Quaker | + | Hewes was against any talk of succession, he was to represent the colonies grievences between Motherland Britain and [[British American]] citizens. His committee would draft the following {{cquote|State the rights of the colonies in general, the several instances in which these rights are violated or infringed, and the means most proper to be pursued for obtaining a restoration of them.}} The royal governor disbanded the assembly and Hewes would now be a delegate to the Continental Congress. His Quaker family was against a split from Great Britain and against talk of war. Since Joseph was a patriot in favor of independence, he severed his connection with the Quaker society. After twenty years of commercial business with Great Britain, Joseph now advocated all American trade connections to be severed. Under Hewes leadership, North Carolina became the first colony to break from King George III. After signing the Declaration, Joseph would place his vast fleet of merchant ships at the service of the Continental Armed Forces. He served the Congress as the Secretary of the Naval Affairs Committee. Hewes would lose his re-election in 1777, but served the Navy until 1779. <ref>[http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/declaration/bio18.htm Biographical Scetches Joseph Hewes, National Park Service]</ref> |
==Death== | ==Death== | ||
Revision as of 00:30, August 19, 2009
Joseph Hewes (b. January 23, 1730; d. November 10, 1779) is a founding father of America, he was a wealthy merchant with the most to lose in the American Revolution. Hewes was a man of integrity and honor. He bristled with confidence and esteem helping the Whigs overthrow the royal government. A member of the Colonial Assembly, signed the Declaration of Independence as a North Carolina representative of the Continental Congress, defacto first Secretary of the Navy.
Early Life
Joseph was born in the year 1730 at a Maybury Hill Kingston estate on the outskirts of Princeton, New Jersey. His parents were Quaker by faith and had moved from their Conneticut farm to a more secure life against religious bigotry and Indian attacks. [1] Joseph grew up on the farm and received a public education. He would enroll and graduate from Princeton College. Next, he moved to Philadelphia and worked for a merchant. Then he established a shipping business in Wilmington, North Carolina, Joseph would earn a fortune. His confidence and esteem won over the people. Hewes was elected and re-elected to represent the people in the colonial legislature.
Politics
Hewes was against any talk of succession, he was to represent the colonies grievences between Motherland Britain and British American citizens. His committee would draft the following
| “ | State the rights of the colonies in general, the several instances in which these rights are violated or infringed, and the means most proper to be pursued for obtaining a restoration of them. | ” |
The royal governor disbanded the assembly and Hewes would now be a delegate to the Continental Congress. His Quaker family was against a split from Great Britain and against talk of war. Since Joseph was a patriot in favor of independence, he severed his connection with the Quaker society. After twenty years of commercial business with Great Britain, Joseph now advocated all American trade connections to be severed. Under Hewes leadership, North Carolina became the first colony to break from King George III. After signing the Declaration, Joseph would place his vast fleet of merchant ships at the service of the Continental Armed Forces. He served the Congress as the Secretary of the Naval Affairs Committee. Hewes would lose his re-election in 1777, but served the Navy until 1779. [2]
Death
Joseph Hewes died at age fifty years old after a battle with a bed-ridden illness. His funeral attended by President Washington, all of Congress, the French head of state. His grave is in Christ Church Burial Ground in Philadelphia, Pa.