James Searle
Encyclopedia
James Searle was an American
merchant and delegate to the Continental Congress
.
He was born in New York
, the son of Catherine Pintard and John Searle, but on coming of age moved to Madeira
, where he engaged in business with his brother John for sixteen years. Between 1753 and 1759, he made several trips to America, more particularly Philadelphia. In 1762, he married Nancy Smith of Waterford, England. He relocated to Philadelphia in 1765, where he continued working as a merchant and an agent for his brother's firm, accumulating great wealth. He signed the 1765 Non-Importation Agreement, whereby merchants pledged not to buy goods from England, in protest of the Stamp Act. He was elected by Congress in 1776 a commissioner for a national lottery that partially funded the Revolutionary War
from 1776 to 1778. He then represented Pennsylvania
as a delegate to the Continental Congress
in 1778. While serving as a delegate, Searle started a cane fight with Charles Thomson
, the Secretary of the Congress, claiming that Thomson misquoted him in the official minutes; the altercation resulted in both men receiving slashes to the face. Searle was a close friend of both John Adams
and Benjamin Franklin
.
He died on August 7, 1797, in Philadelphia, where he was interred at St. Peter's Churchyard
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
merchant and delegate to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
.
He was born in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, the son of Catherine Pintard and John Searle, but on coming of age moved to Madeira
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
, where he engaged in business with his brother John for sixteen years. Between 1753 and 1759, he made several trips to America, more particularly Philadelphia. In 1762, he married Nancy Smith of Waterford, England. He relocated to Philadelphia in 1765, where he continued working as a merchant and an agent for his brother's firm, accumulating great wealth. He signed the 1765 Non-Importation Agreement, whereby merchants pledged not to buy goods from England, in protest of the Stamp Act. He was elected by Congress in 1776 a commissioner for a national lottery that partially funded the Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
from 1776 to 1778. He then represented Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
as a delegate to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
in 1778. While serving as a delegate, Searle started a cane fight with Charles Thomson
Charles Thomson
Charles Thomson was a Patriot leader in Philadelphia during the American Revolution and the secretary of the Continental Congress throughout its existence.-Biography:...
, the Secretary of the Congress, claiming that Thomson misquoted him in the official minutes; the altercation resulted in both men receiving slashes to the face. Searle was a close friend of both John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
and Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
.
He died on August 7, 1797, in Philadelphia, where he was interred at St. Peter's Churchyard
St. Peter's Church, Philadelphia
St. Peter's Church is a historic church located on the corner of Third and Pine Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It opened for worship on September 4, 1761 and served as a place of worship for many of the United States Founding Fathers during the period of the Continental Congresses. The...
.
External links
- Biography at the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of PennsylvaniaThe University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...