Freemasonry has a long and proud association with the founding of the United States of America. Many of the Founding Fathers, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and John Hancock were Freemasons, and many of them signed the Constitution. The Freemasons who signed the Constitution were all involved in crafting it and had an integral role in shaping it into what it is today. They played a major role in helping to create an independent nation and ensure its survival.
The Freemasons who signed the United States Constitution were: George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, William Few, Robert Morris, Alexander Hamilton, and Thomas McKean.
The Life of George Washington
George Washington was a polymath who had a hand in almost every aspect of early American life. He was a surveyor, politician, farmer, soldier, and statesman. As the first President of the United States, he set many precedents that are still used today. He was a leader in the Revolutionary War and helped create the Constitution.
Washington’s life began on February 22, 1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. His father Augustine Washington was a planter who owned several farms while his mother Mary Ball Washington ran them. From an early age he was taught how to survey land and manage farming operations. He would later use these skills to great success in his own plantation management.
Washington began his military career at age 19 when he served as an aide-de-camp to General Edward Braddock during the French and Indian War. He quickly rose through the ranks and gained fame for his courage under fire during battles such as Monongahela and Fort Necessity. After the war he returned home where he was elected to represent Virginia in the Continental Congress.
Washington is best known for leading the Continental Army against Britain during the Revolutionary War. At first he faced major setbacks due to lack of supplies and training but eventually turned things around with victories at Trenton and Princeton which helped turn the tide of war in favor of America.
After winning independence from Britain, Washington returned home where he again served as a representative to Congress before being unanimously elected as president in 1789. During his two terms as president, Washington established many executive precedents like setting up executive departments, negotiating treaties with other countries, creating a national currency system and establishing diplomatic relations with various nations.
Washington retired from public life after his second term as president but continued to be involved in politics until his death on December 14th 1799 at Mount Vernon Virginia at age 67. His legacy lives on even today through monuments built in his honor such as The Washington Monument which stands 555 feet tall in Washington D.C., making it one of the tallest structures in North America.
Early Life
Benjamin Franklin was born in January of 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the 15th and youngest son of a candle maker. He attended school for only two years before leaving to work in his father’s shop as a printer’s apprentice. In 1721, he left Boston at the age of 15 and moved to Philadelphia where he established a printing business. He soon became one of the most successful printers in the colonies. Franklin also published the Pennsylvania Gazette newspaper and Poor Richard’s Almanack, which became one of the most popular publications in the colonies.
Achievements
Franklin went on to become a prominent figure in science and politics. He promoted cleanliness and health practices that helped reduce deaths from diseases such as smallpox. Through his experiments with electricity, he disproved the theory that lightning was caused by supernatural forces, and instead showed that it is an electrical phenomenon. In politics, Franklin was an outspoken advocate for colonial rights against British rule. He was instrumental in helping to draft the Declaration of Independence and served as an ambassador during diplomatic negotiations with France.
Legacy
Franklin left behind a legacy of innovation and reform that has shaped modern society. His inventions such as bifocals and lightning rods have been integral to progress over time. His contribution to science through electricity research has revolutionized communications technology worldwide. His political actions have been studied by generations of leaders who have sought to emulate his dedication to freedom and justice for all citizens.
His writings have served as inspiration for countless individuals throughout history, including Thomas Jefferson who credited Franklin with inspiring him to draft the Declaration of Independence. The legacy of Benjamin Franklin will continue to live on through his many accomplishments that have shaped both American history and modern society at large.
Roger Sherman
Roger Sherman was an American Founding Father who served in the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence. He was also a prominent figure in the drafting and ratification of the United States Constitution. Sherman is one of only five people to have signed all four great state papers of the United States: the Continental Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution. He represented Connecticut in both the First and Second Continental Congresses. In addition to being a politician, he was a successful lawyer and businessman. Sherman also served as Connecticut’s first representative in Congress from 1789 to 1793.
Sherman was born in Newton, Massachusetts on April 19, 1721 to William and Mehetabel Sherman. He attended Yale College at age 16 and later became a lawyer. He moved to New Milford, Connecticut where he practiced law for over thirty years before being elected as a delegate to both The First and Second Continental Congresses which were held in Philadelphia.
In 1776, Roger Sherman was appointed to serve on a committee with Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and John Adams to draft a declaration of independence for the colonies. The Declaration was adopted unanimously by Congress on July 4th of that year. After independence was declared he served as one of Connecticut’s delegates to The Articles Of Confederation convention which is now known as The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia from May 25th through September 17th 1787 . During this convention he played an important role in helping craft America’s first constitution which is now known as The United States Constitution.
Sherman also helped draft other important documents including The Northwest Ordinance Of 1787 which established laws for governing new territories that would become states west of Pennsylvania. After his retirement from politics he continued practicing law until his death on July 23rd 1800 at age 79 in New Haven Connecticut where his grave can still be seen today at Grove Street Cemetery located near Yale University.
Sherman’s lasting legacy is that he left behind some very important documents that shaped our nation into what it is today such as The Northwest Ordinance Of 1787 and his work on The United States Constitution which are all still very relevant today.
Early Life
Rufus King was born on March 24, 1755 in Scarborough, Maine. He was the son of Richard King and Isabella Bragdon and was raised a Congregationalist. He attended the Dummer Academy in Byfield, Massachusetts before enrolling at Harvard College at the age of 17. He graduated from Harvard in 1777 with honors and studied law in Newburyport, Massachusetts.
Political Career
King’s political career spanned three decades, from 1787 to 1817. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress from Massachusetts from 1784 to 1787 and was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for six terms from 1803 to 1813. From 1813 to 1816 he served as a U.S. Senator representing New York, then returned to serve one final term in the House of Representatives from 1817 until his death in 1827.
Constitution Ratification
In 1787 he was sent as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and played an important role in its ratification by New York State. He argued that under the new Constitution states were not sovereign but part of “one great republic” and that any state could secede if it wished. He also advocated for a strong central government with sufficient powers to protect citizens’ rights.
Foreign Affairs
In 1800 he was appointed minister plenipotentiary to Great Britain by President John Adams and served until 1803 when he returned home to run for Congress again. During his tenure he worked closely with British officials on matters relating to trade between the two countries as well as maritime issues such as impressment of American sailors into the British Navy.
Legacy
Rufus King’s legacy is one of service and dedication to his country. His commitment to compromise helped ensure that the United States would remain united during its early years when it faced many challenges both internally and externally.
William Few
William Few was an American Founding Father who was instrumental in the formation of the United States Constitution. He was born in Maryland in 1748 and moved to Georgia at a young age. Few served as a state delegate to the Continental Congress from 1780 to 1783, and he was one of three Georgians to sign the United States Constitution in 1787.
Few was also a successful businessman and politician in Georgia, serving as a state senator and member of the executive council. He also helped establish the University of Georgia while serving on its Board of Trustees from 1801 to 1807. Few died at his home near Augusta, Georgia, on July 16th, 1828.
Few’s service to his country is remembered today through his contributions to the US Constitution and his involvement in establishing the University of Georgia. During his time as a delegate for Georgia at the Continental Congress, Few worked with James Madison and Alexander Hamilton on drafting articles of Confederation that were eventually adopted by Congress in 1781. While serving on the Board of Trustees for UGA, Few helped secure funding for its construction and worked with fellow trustees to ensure that it stayed open during difficult times.
Few also served as a state senator where he advocated for religious freedom and opposed slavery. In addition, he helped create Augusta’s first public library in 1810 and supported public education initiatives throughout his career. His strong belief in democracy led him to be an outspoken critic of President Andrew Jackson’s policies during his later years.
William Few’s legacy is remembered today through his many contributions to American society during its formative years. From signing the US Constitution to helping establish UGA, Few helped shape America into what it is today.
Abraham Baldwin was born on November 22, 1754 in Guilford, Connecticut. He was the fourth of seven children born to his parents. His father, a blacksmith, died when Abraham was twelve years old. After his father’s death, Abraham found himself taking care of his siblings and helping with the family business. He was educated at home until he was sixteen when he attended Yale University. At Yale, Abraham excelled academically and graduated in 1772 with a Bachelor’s degree in divinity.
Political Career
Upon graduation from Yale, Abraham became a tutor in Georgia for the next four years. In 1776 he began teaching at the University of Georgia and accepted a position as pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Savannah. It was during this time that Abraham became involved in politics. In 1783 he was elected to the Continental Congress and later served as a delegate from Georgia to help draft a new constitution for the United States.
Legacy
Abraham Baldwin is remembered as one of the Founding Fathers of America and one of the first senators from Georgia. He is remembered for helping to establish educational institutions such as Franklin College (now known as the University of Georgia). His legacy also lives on through numerous monuments erected in his honor throughout Georgia, including one at Yale University. He died on March 4, 1807 at age 52.
Abraham Baldwin’s legacy lives on today through his contributions to American politics and education. His commitment to education helped shape our nation into what it is today and will remain an important part of our history for generations to come.
Early life and Education
John Blair Jr. was born in 1732 in Williamsburg, Virginia. He was the son of John Blair, a colonial American leader, and his wife, Elizabeth Blair. He studied at the College of William & Mary and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1752. After graduating from college, he studied law with his father and was admitted to the bar in 1755.
Career
Blair served as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses from 1766 to 1775. During this time he also served as a delegate to the Continental Congress from Virginia from 1774 to 1776 and was an active participant in discussions about independence. After independence was declared, he became an associate justice on the Supreme Court of Virginia in 1778. He also served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787.
Legacy
John Blair Jr.’s legacy is one of dedication to public service and devotion to the law. He played an important role in both the Revolutionary War and the formation of the Constitution, making him one of our country’s founding fathers. His commitment to justice led him to serve on both state and federal courts throughout his career, ultimately shaping our nation’s legal system for generations to come.
In Reflection on Freemasons Who Signed The Constitution
Freemasons who signed the Constitution played an important role in establishing the United States of America. They were instrumental in creating the government framework that we have today, and their influence is still felt to this day. Their dedication to freedom and justice for all should be remembered and honored.
The Founding Fathers who were members of the Masonic Order used their knowledge of history, law, philosophy, and morality to develop a government with a system of checks and balances that would protect citizens from tyranny and oppression. They also had an understanding of how to effectively create a society where freedom could flourish.
The principles that Freemasons held dear – such as religious tolerance, democracy, and civil rights – are all tenets that still guide our nation today. The strength of character and courage it took for them to sign the document that established our nation cannot be overstated.
Freemasons have continued to make positive contributions to society throughout history by building strong communities through charity work, providing educational opportunities, and advocating for social justice. They have helped shape the world we live in today with their dedication to preserving liberty for all people.
We must never forget the legacy of those Freemasons who signed the Constitution: their courage in pursuing freedom and liberty for all citizens has had lasting impacts not only in our nation but throughout the world. It is up to us to honor their memory by continuing their work of promoting democracy, civil rights, religious tolerance, education, and social justice.