Born sometime during 1741 in Ireland and dying August 26, 1811 in Phillidelphia Thomas FitzSimons, an Irish Catholic, was a delegate from the colony of Pennsylvania. He immigrated in the mid-1750's and in 1763 he went into business with his new brother-in-law, George Meade (Grandfather of the Civil War general).
As a business man, FitzSimons began to dislike the British oppression after the Stamp Act was implemented. In 1771 he became the leader of a political fraternity known as the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick. FitzSimons was part of the Revolutionary War as he formed and led a company in the Pennsylvania 3rd Battalion. His company fought in the battle for New York, protected the coast of New Jersey, and they were with Washington when Princeton was taken back from the redcoats. After retiring from the Army, he served on a Pennsylvanian board that oversaw the Pennsylvania Navy. FitzSimons then served as the director of the Bank of North America from its beginning, 1781, until 1803. He attended Continental Congress in 1782.At the Constitutional Convention in 1787, he often spoke on the issues of commerce and finance and how they pertained to government. FitzSimons viewed government as a logical extension of the relationship that existed among families, ethnic communities, and business groups. He led the fight in Pennsylvania for the ratifying of the Constitution. As one of the signers, Thomas FitzSimons as an Irish Immigrant brought his business and military knowlege to the table in the forming of our great nation.
2 comments:
This is really interesting stuff. I didn't know hardly any of these people that we owe so much to.
It really did take all points of view to get it accomplished. You have to appreciate the money people, they have a whole different way of looking at things.
Post a Comment