PENNSYLVANIA’S DECLARATION SIGNERS

Another look at an individual state’s representatives who signed the Declaration of Independence:

PENNSYLVANIA – (Nine reps)
### 1. George Clymer – His home was ransacked by the British who destroyed all his furniture and stole all his booze. After the war Clymer’s business acumen saved the University of Pennsylvania from bankruptcy.

2. Benjamin Franklin – Just about everything is known about him so I’ll throw in two often-forgotten episodes –

a) In 1774 he ignited a scandal when he intentionally leaked anti-rebel letters written by the Royal Governor of Massachusetts, an adventure that cost Franklin his position as Postmaster General.

b) Also, he was part of the delegation sent to Canada to try to talk them into joining America in breaking away from England.

3. Robert Morris – A once-wealthy man who blew a large portion of his fortune keeping the rebel cause afloat. He later wound up in debtor’s prison, and George Washington showed him some moral support by dining with him there.

4. John Morton – On April 15th, 1777 he became the first Declaration signer to die and one of his deathbed pronouncements was to friends who disagreed with his vote for independence, ” Tell them they will live to see the hour when they shall acknowledge it to have been the most glorious service I ever rendered to my country.”

5. George Ross – His nephew John was married to Betsy Ross, the famous seamstress of many of the first American flags.

6. Benjamin Rush – This M.D. served as Surgeon General of the armies in 1777, became “the father of American psychiatry” and established the first free medical clinic in America, the Philadelphia Dispensary.

7. James Smith – While he was serving in the Continental Congress his successful business collapsed due to negligence by his partners.

8. George Taylor – His ironworks made grapeshot, cannons and cannonballs for the American war effort, but he was very poorly paid for them after the war.

9. James Wilson – Went on to sign the U.S. Constitution as well as the Declaration of Independence and while serving as a Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court spent time in debtor’s prison over failed land investments.