Difference between revisions of "Thomas Fitzsimons"
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| − | '''Thomas Fitzsimons''' ( | + | '''Thomas Fitzsimons''' (1741 – 26 August 1811) was a statesman, merchant, member of the [[Continental Congress]], [[Founding Father]], delegate to the [[Constitutional Convention]] for the state of [[Pennsylvania]], and signer of the [[Constitution]]. His name is also sometimes spelled '''Fitzsimmons'''. |
| − | ==Early | + | ==Early life== |
| − | Fitzsimons' family immigrated to [[Philadelphia]] in the mid-1750s. His father died shortly thereafter; young Thomas, upon completing his education, entered a counting-house as a clerk. <ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=F000178 FITZSIMONS, Thomas, (1741 - 1811)]</ref> He married Catherine Meade on November 23, 1761.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=MaVJAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA199 Records of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia, Volume 3]</ref> In 1763 Thomas went into business with his new brother-in-law, George Meade (the grandfather of [[Civil War]] [[General George Meade]]), specializing in trade with the West Indies.<ref name=army>[http://www.history.army.mil/books/RevWar/ss/fitzsimons.htm Thomas Fitzsimons]</ref> When the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick was founded in 1771, Fitzsimons and Meade were among the first members.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=cHzxeLx6rVMC&pg=PA107 The American Catholic Historical Researches, Volumes 6-7]</ref> | + | Fitzsimons' family immigrated to [[Philadelphia]] in the mid-1750s. His father died shortly thereafter; young Thomas, upon completing his education, entered a counting-house as a clerk.<ref name="FITZSIMONS, Thomas, 1741–1811">[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=F000178 FITZSIMONS, Thomas, (1741 - 1811)]</ref> He married Catherine Meade on November 23, 1761.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=MaVJAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA199 Records of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia, Volume 3]</ref> In 1763 Thomas went into business with his new brother-in-law, George Meade (the grandfather of [[Civil War]] [[General George Meade]]), specializing in trade with the West Indies.<ref name=army>[http://www.history.army.mil/books/RevWar/ss/fitzsimons.htm Thomas Fitzsimons]</ref> When the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick was founded in 1771, Fitzsimons and Meade were among the first members.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=cHzxeLx6rVMC&pg=PA107 The American Catholic Historical Researches, Volumes 6-7]</ref> |
==Military Service== | ==Military Service== | ||
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==Constitutional Convention== | ==Constitutional Convention== | ||
[[Image:Tom Fitzsimmons Parkway.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Fitzsimons statue on the Ben Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia]] | [[Image:Tom Fitzsimmons Parkway.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Fitzsimons statue on the Ben Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia]] | ||
| − | Fitzsimons was asked to represent Pennsylvania at the Federal [[Constitutional Convention]] in 1787. There, he argued strongly that the Federal government should have the ability to tax imports and exports. Following the Convention, he signed the Constitution<ref | + | Fitzsimons was asked to represent Pennsylvania at the Federal [[Constitutional Convention]] in 1787. There, he argued strongly that the Federal government should have the ability to tax imports and exports. Following the Convention, he signed the Constitution<ref name="FITZSIMONS, Thomas, 1741–1811"/> and was instrumental in advocating its ratification.<ref name=army /> |
Other members of the Pennsylvania delegation to the Convention were [[George Clymer]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Jared Ingersoll]], [[Thomas Mifflin]], [[Gouverneur Morris]], [[Robert Morris]], and [[James Wilson]]. | Other members of the Pennsylvania delegation to the Convention were [[George Clymer]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Jared Ingersoll]], [[Thomas Mifflin]], [[Gouverneur Morris]], [[Robert Morris]], and [[James Wilson]]. | ||
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{{reflist|2}} | {{reflist|2}} | ||
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fitzsimons, Thomas}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Fitzsimons, Thomas}} | ||
[[Category:Founding Fathers]] | [[Category:Founding Fathers]] | ||
[[Category:American Revolution]] | [[Category:American Revolution]] | ||
Revision as of 03:38, June 27, 2016
| Founding Fathers | |
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| Thomas Fitzsimons | |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Founding Documents | United States Constitution |
Thomas Fitzsimons (1741 – 26 August 1811) was a statesman, merchant, member of the Continental Congress, Founding Father, delegate to the Constitutional Convention for the state of Pennsylvania, and signer of the Constitution. His name is also sometimes spelled Fitzsimmons.
Contents
Early life
Fitzsimons' family immigrated to Philadelphia in the mid-1750s. His father died shortly thereafter; young Thomas, upon completing his education, entered a counting-house as a clerk.[1] He married Catherine Meade on November 23, 1761.[2] In 1763 Thomas went into business with his new brother-in-law, George Meade (the grandfather of Civil War General George Meade), specializing in trade with the West Indies.[3] When the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick was founded in 1771, Fitzsimons and Meade were among the first members.[4]
Military Service
Due to the strong pacifist beliefs of its resident Quakers, Pennsylvania lacked a standing militia at the onset of the Revolutionary War. Consequently, the Patriots had to build the Pennsylvania military from the ground up, fielding volunteer units called Associators. Fitzsimons raised and commanded a company in Colonel John Cadwalader's 3d Battalion. Following the British attack on New York in 1776, Fitzsimons' company served in the cordon of outposts that guarded the New Jersey shoreline.
The attack on New York proved successful, and the British next turned their attention to New Jersey, forcing the outnumbered Patriots to withdraw beyond the Delaware River. Fitzsimons' company went on duty on 5 December to cover the continentals' retreat. For the remainder of the month it guarded the river's Pennsylvania shore. Although Fitzsimons' unit did not participate in Washington's Christmas Eve attack on Trenton, they did assist in dealing with a British counterattack on January 2. Following the withdrawal of the British from most of New Jersey, Fitzsimons retired from active duty.[3]
Continental Congress
Fitzsimons was appointed to the Continental Congress in 1782, where he played a key role in developing a centralized economy. A strong advocate of private ienterprise, Fitzsimons promoted the growth of domestic industry and the payment of government debts. However, he was opposed to heavy taxes, particularly those that would "...fall too heavily on any particular part of the community." While his evenhandedness won him respect in Congress, it also brought criticism from Pennsylvania voters who felt that he was not being active enough in serving their interests. Fitzsimons resigned from Congress in 1783.[3]
Constitutional Convention
Fitzsimons was asked to represent Pennsylvania at the Federal Constitutional Convention in 1787. There, he argued strongly that the Federal government should have the ability to tax imports and exports. Following the Convention, he signed the Constitution[1] and was instrumental in advocating its ratification.[3]
Other members of the Pennsylvania delegation to the Convention were George Clymer, Benjamin Franklin, Jared Ingersoll, Thomas Mifflin, Gouverneur Morris, Robert Morris, and James Wilson.
Later Political Service
Fitzsimons was elected as a Pro-Administration candidate to the First, Second, and Third Congresses, serving in the House of Representatives for six years; during this time, he chaired the Ways and Means Committee.
Death
Thomas Fitsimons died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 26, 1811. He was buried in St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Churchyard.[5]
References
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