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following year, he was among those that affixed their names to the charter of our liberties. He was gov ernor of Virginia at the time the battle of Yorktown was fought, to the success of which General Washington acknowledged that Governor Nelson contributed much. His death occurred on the 4th of Jan., 1789, in the 50th year of his age.

WILLIAM PACA,

Was born in Hartford, in the state of Maryland, on the 31st of October, 1740. He received a liberal education at the college at Philadelphia, after which he commenced the study of the law at Annapolis, and soon became conspicuous as a practitioner. In 1771, he was elected a member of the legislature of his native state, in which he took a decided part against the usurpations of the governor. In 1774 he was appointed a member of the continental congress, in which he continued until 1778. During this time, the rupture of the colonies from the mother country took place, and Mr. Paca had the honour of affixing his signature to the declaration of independence. In 1778 he was appointed chief justice of the state of Maryland; and in 1780 he was appointed chief judge in prize and admiralty causes. In 1782 he was chosen chief magistrate of his native state, and during the exercise of this office was a decided patron of literature and of religion. In 1789, he was appointed district judge for the district of Maryland, which office he held until the termination of his life. He died in the year 1799, in the 60th year of his age.

ROBERT

TREAT PAINE,

Was born in Massachusetts, in 1731. He had the

advantage of a good classical education, and graduated at Harvard College. Mr. Paine studied theology, and was a chaplain of the army, on the frontiers, during the war of 1758, usually called the French war. After this, he turned his attention to the study of the law, and became a reputable practitioner. At the trial of Preston and his soldiers for the massacre of 1770, he officiated for the attorney general, and managed this cause with great ability. In 1774, he was sent a delegate from Massachusetts to the continental congress which assembled at Philadelphia. In 1776, he was again in that body, where he signed the declaration of independence, and was among the foremost in urging an immediate preparation for carrying on the war with all the energies of the nation. He continued his efforts in congress, or in the legislature of Massachusetts, until a constitution was adopted by the latter in 1780, under which he was appointed attorney general, which office he held until 1796, when he was made a judge of the supreme court of the commonwealth, which situation he held until 1804, when he resigned, after which he was elected one of the state counsellors to advise the governor. At the close of this year, Mr. Paine retired from public life, and sought in the shades of privacy repose from his labours. He died on the 11th of May, 1814, in the 83d year of his age.

JOHN PENN,

Was born in the county of Caroline, Virginia, on the 17th of May, 1741. The early education of young Penn was greatly neglected; but possessing a strong mind, and having access to the library of Edmund Pendleton, then among the best in the country, he

cultivated the talents nature had given him, and commenced the study of the law, in which he was licensed as a practitioner at the age of 21. In 1774, Mr. Penn removed to North Carolina, where he soon occupied a distinguished place at the bar. In 1775, he was elected a member of the continental congress, in which body he continued until 1779, during which time he had the honour of affixing his name to the instrument which declared our country independent. On the return of peace, Mr. Penn retired from the bustle of politics, and remained in private life until the time of his decease, which occurred in the month of Sept., 1788, in the 46th year of his age..

GEORGE READ,

Was born in Maryland, in 1734, and was educated by Dr. Allison, who was celebrated for producing good scholars. After leaving school, he commenced the study of the law, and was admitted to the bar whilst quite a youth. He commenced practice at Newcastle, in the state of Delaware, where he soon gained the confidence of the people, and was elected a member of the assembly of that state. In 1774, he was sent to the continental congress, in which situation he continued for several years. He was a member of that body in 1776, and although he was at first opposed to a declaration of independence, yet, when that instrument was brought forward, he cheerfully signed it, and continued a firm patriot until the end of his life. After the peace, he filled various offices of great responsibility, sustaining an excellent character both as a public and private He died in the autumn of 1798, in the 64th

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Was born at Dover, in the state of Delaware, in 1730. He was elected a delegate to the continental congress of 1776, where he had the honour of signing the declaration of independence. Mr. Rodney early took a part in the struggle between the colonies and the mother country; and he was so distinguished as a fine writer, that his pen was in constant requisition. He was highly esteemed as a patriot, and not only served his fellow citizens in congress, but was also a member of the legislature, and was for some time president of the state of Delaware. He died in 1783, just as the conflict was ended; and was happily released from a state of suffering, which continued ill health imposed upon him, before he was overtaken by the frailties of old age.

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Was born at Newcastle, in the state of Delaware, in the year 1730. He was liberally educated, and commenced the study of the law so young, that he began the practice of it in Lancaster, in Pennsylvania, when he was only twenty-one years of age. He soon became celebrated in his profession, and was shortly elected a member of the Pennsylvania legislature, where he gained so much reputation as a politician, that he was appointed one of the delegates from that state to the continental congress, and was present when the declaration of independence was promulgated in that body, and had the pleasure of affixing his signature to it. He continued an active politician until 1779, when death withdrew him from us, in the midst of his usefulness, in the 50th year of his age.

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Was born near Philadelphia, on the 24th of December, 1743, O. S. He received his preparatory education under the care of Dr. Finlay, and in 1759, entered Princeton College, where he had remained but one year, when he took his degree. He commenced the study of medicine the next year, and in 1766 left this country for Edinburgh, where in two years after, he took the degree of M. D. After visiting London, and various places in France, he then returned to Philadelphia, and commenced the prac tice of his profession. Immediately after his return he was elected professor of chemistry in the college of Pennsylvania, and was held in high esteem as a medical man, though his course differed from that of many other practitioners. He was a member of the congress of 1776, and had the honour of voting for; and affixing his name to the declaration of independence; and from that time took an active part in every thing that conduced to the interests of his country, either in politics, science, or letters. He died on the 19th of April, 1813, in the 68th year of his age, respected both at home and abroad, as a patriot, philosopher, and physician.

EDWARD RUTLEDGE,

Was born in the city of Charleston, South Carolina, in Nov., 1749. After receiving an education in New Jersey, he commenced the study of the law, with his elder brother, who was an eminent advocate at the Charleston bar, and then sailed for Eng

In 1773 he re

land to complete his legal education. turned to his native country, and entered upon the

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