Who is He?

The Founding Father in question was born on July 17, 1744 and is a Signer of the Declaration that most people don’t know much about. Now is a good time to learn more!

He graduated from Harvard in 1762 at the age of 17, having received a thorough religious education. As tensions grew with Great Britain, this Founder became a member of the Committees of Correspondence and served in the colonial legislature of Massachusetts. He became a member of the Continental Congress, where he signed the Declaration of Independence. In 1787, he helped frame the US Constitution at the Constitutional Convention but did not sign the document, instead urging the states to add a Bill of Rights to ensure the federal government would be limited in both scope and power.

Despite his significant leadership in securing America’s independence and creating its constitutional form of government, today this Founding Father is generally most associated with one word: gerrymander. This term is taken from his last name plus “salamander” and originated when the political party of which he was part attempted to redraw the districts in Massachusetts to keep themselves in power.

He served as Governor of Massachusetts and was an outspoken Christian — a fact apparent in his statewide calls to prayer. For example:

“The Lord reigneth, let the earth,” let all creation, “rejoice.” The innumerable blessings conferred by our divine benefactor during the present, and in every preceding year, on the inhabitants of this Commonwealth, proclaim their duty to offer Him at all times, with unbounded gratitude, their cheerful acknowledgments of His perpetual favors.

This Founder died on November 23, 1814, having had a significant influence on the creation and establishment of America. As one author said of him, “In the review of the life of [] the pure patriot finds much to admire–the Christian nothing to condemn….He was useful in every station where duty called.”

Do you know who this Founding Father is? Let us know if you guessed it! (And if you couldn’t figure it out, the resources linked throughout this email will give you the answer.)