Ellery, William, 1727-1820
Name Entries
person
Ellery, William, 1727-1820
Computed Name Heading
Name Components
Surname :
Ellery
Forename :
William
Date :
1727-1820
eng
Latn
authorizedForm
rda
Ellery, Gulielmus, 1727-1820
Computed Name Heading
Name Components
Surname :
Ellery
Forename :
Gulielmus
Date :
1727-1820
eng
Latn
alternativeForm
rda
Genders
Male
Exist Dates
Biographical History
William Ellery (December 22, 1727 – February 15, 1820) was a Founding Father of the United States, one of the 56 signers of the United States Declaration of Independence, and a signer of the Articles of Confederation as a representative of Rhode Island.
Born in Newport, Rhode Island, he received his early education from his father before graduating from Harvard College in 1747. After working as a merchant, customs collector, and as clerk of the Rhode Island General Assembly, Ellery started practicing law in 1770 and became active in the Rhode Island Sons of Liberty. Sent to the Continental Congress in 1776 to replace the late Samuel Ward, he was one of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The size of his signature on the Declaration is second only to John Hancock's famous signature. In 1778, he was one of the signers of the Articles of Confederation.
Ellery also served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island from May 1780 to May 1781, and chief justice from June 1785 to May 1786. He had become an abolitionist by 1785. He was the first customs collector of the port of Newport under the Constitution, serving there until his death, and he worshipped at the Second Congregational Church of Newport. Ellery died in Newport on February 15, 1820 and was buried in Common Burial Ground there.
eng
Latn
External Related CPF
https://viaf.org/viaf/3777416
https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q567964
https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n80097796
https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n80097796
Other Entity IDs (Same As)
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Languages Used
lat
Latn
eng
Latn
gre
Grek
Subjects
African American consumers
Arithmetic
Collecting of accounts
Customs administration
Debts, Public
Depreciation
General stores
Navigation
Pennsylvania
Privateering
Representatives, U.S. Continental Congress
Shipping
Vegetable gardening
Wharves
Nationalities
Britons
Americans
Activities
Occupations
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Jurists
Lawyers
Merchants
Legal Statuses
Places
Newport
RI, US
AssociatedPlace
Death
Newport
RI, US
AssociatedPlace
Birth
Cambridge
MA, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
Convention Declarations
<conventionDeclaration><citation>VIAF</citation></conventionDeclaration>