FRANCIS LEWIS,

Was born in South Wales, in the year 1713. He was partly educated in Scotland, and then sent to Westminster, where he became a good classical scholar. He entered a mercantile house in London, and served until he was of age, when he left England for America, and commenced business in New York. In 1756, he was an agent for the British merchants, and was taken prisoner and carried to France; but was exchanged, and returned to New York. In 1775, he was sent as a delegate to the continental congress from the provincial congress of New York; and was there when the declaration of independence was made, which he unhesitatingly signed. He was a member of that body for several years afterwards, and was particularly serviceable as a commercial man. He was an eminent patriot throughout our revolutionary struggle, but he suffered much for his patriotism, as the British destroyed the whole of his property on Long Island. He died on the 30th of December, 1813, in the 90th year of his age.

PHILIP LIVINGSTON,

Was born at Albany, in New York, on the 15th of Jan. 1706. He was educated in Yale College, from which he graduated in 1737. He settled in the city of New York as a merchant, and his talents soon brought him in high estimation with the community. In 1754, he was elected an alderman, and after serving in that capacity four years, he was sent to Albany as a representative of the city. In this body he soon became a leading man, and particularly directed its attention to the great interests of commerce. Mr.

Livingston was in Congress in 1776, and was one of the committee to draft a declaration of independence, to which instrument he affixed his signature. Mr. Livingston was a member of the senate of New York after the adoption of the constitution of that state, under which instrument he was again elected a member of Congress; but his country was shortly after deprived of his services, he being seized with dropsy of the chest, of which he died, June 12, 1778, in the 52d year of his age.

THOMAS LYNCH,

Was born in South Carolina, on the 5th of Aug., 1749. After receiving the rudiments of education, he was sent to England to finish his studies, and graduated at Cambridge with high reputation. He then studied the law, and returned home in 1772. In 1775, on the raising of the first South Carolina regiment, he was appointed to the command of a company; and shortly after was elected a delegate to the continental congress. The health of Mr. Lynch, soon after joining congress began to decline with alarming rapidity; but he continued in that body until the declaration of independence had been voted, and affixed his signature to that important instrument. He returned to South Carolina, from whence he sailed to the West Indies, accompanied by his wife; but, from the time of their sailing, nothing more is known of their fate, as the vessel was never after heard from.

ARTHUR MIDDLETON,

Was born in South Carolina, in the year 1743. He

was sent in early life to England to receive his education, and graduated at Cambridge college with considerable reputation. In 1773 he returned to America, and settled himself in his native state. In 1775, Mr. Middleton was elected a member of the council of safety of South Carolina; and in 1776 was sent as a delegate to Congress, where he had an opportunity of placing his name to the declaration of our independence. During the war he sustained great loss in property, and when Charleston was taken, he was made a prisoner. In July, 1781, he was exchanged, and proceeded in a cartel to Philadelphia. After his return, he was engaged in active political life until he was removed to another world. He died -on the 1st of Jan., 1787, in the 44th year of his age.

THOMAS M'KEAN,

Was born at New London, Chester county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1734. He received a good education, under the care of Dr. Allison, and entered a law office at an early age, where he soon became distinguished for his application to literature, and the uncommon maturity of his mind. In 1775, he was a member of the congress held in New York, where he met some of the first talent of the country. From this time Mr. M'Kean was actively engaged in all the important affairs that concerned the welfare of the colonies, and when the continental congress met in 1774, he was found a leading member of that body. In 1776 he was a member from the state of Delaware, and was among the foremost that signed the Delaration of Independence. He took an active part in military life during the war; and, after the close

of it, he was called to fill many civil offices, among which was that of governor of the state of Pennsylvania. He died on the 24th of June, 1817, in the 83d year of his age.

LEWIS MORRIS,

Was born in New York, in 1726. He was educated in Yale College, and after going through his studies, returned to his paternal acres. At the commencement of the revolutionary struggle, Mr. Morris was in affluent circumstances, and placed in a situation from which he could not apparently wish any change; but the conduct of the mother country decided his course, and he showed himself a firm påtriot. In 1775 he was sent to the continental congress, and was employed to hold a talk with the Indians, to induce them to take the American side of the great controversy. In 1776 he was again a member of congress, and signed the declaration of independence. He died on his farm, in Jan., 1798, in the 72d year of his age.

Was born in England, in Jan., 1733, but was quite young when he came to this country, and was educated in Philadelphia. When he completed his edu cation, he entered a counting room, where he became a finished merchant. After the revolution commenced he took an active part with the patriots of the day. In 1776, he was a member of the second continental congress, and signed the instrument which secured our independence. During the whole war, he was considered the ablest financier in the country, and

Washington had recourse to him, when he could receive nothing from Congress. In 1781, Mr. Morris was appointed superintendent of finance; and was, perhaps, the man best calculated for that office of any in the country. He was highly esteemed by both Washington and Franklin; and it was through his means that Washington was enabled to pursue his southern campaign, which ended in the capture of Cornwallis, and closed the war of the revolution. He died on the 3d of May, 1806, in the 73d year of his age.

JOHN MORTON,

Was born in Delaware, in the year 1723. He was early a politician, and was elected a member of the New York 'congress, from Pennsylvania, in 1765; and for many years after he filled various civil offices in his adopted state. In 1774, he was elected a member of the continental congress; and in 1776 he signed the declaration of independence. In 1777, he was again elected a member of that body, but died the same year of a fever, in the 53d year of his age, universally respected for his virtues and attainments, and deeply deplored by the community at large.

THOMAS NELSON,

Was born at York, in Virginia, on the 26th of Dec. 1738. At the early age of 14, young Nelson was sent to England for the purpose of acquiring an education. After going through his preparatory studie, he entered Cambridge college, from which he graduated with reputation. On his return to his native land, he entered into political life, and was eected a delegate to Congress in 1775, and in the