Mifflin, Thomas, 1744-1800

Detailed View Revision History Sources

Hide Profile

Thomas Mifflin (January 10, 1744 – January 20, 1800) was an American merchant, soldier, and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He served in a variety of roles during and after the American Revolution, several of which qualify him to be counted among the Founding Fathers. He was the first governor of Pennsylvania, serving from 1790 to 1799; he was also the last president of Pennsylvania, succeeding Benjamin Franklin and serving from 1788 until 1790.

Born in Philadelphia, Mifflin became a merchant after graduating from the College of Philadelphia. He joined the Continental Army after serving in the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly and the Continental Congress, where he had signed the Continental Association. During the American Revolutionary War, he was an aide to General George Washington and the Continental Army's Quartermaster General, rising to the rank of major general. Mifflin returned to Congress in 1782 and was elected president of the Continental Congress in 1783. He served as speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1785 to 1787, then as president of the Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council from 1788 to 1790.

Mifflin was a delegate to the 1787 Philadelphia Convention and signed the United States Constitution. He then presided over the committee that wrote Pennsylvania's own constitution, and he became the first governor after the ratification of the constitution. Mifflin left office as governor in 1799. He died the following year in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and is interred at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church there.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Nathanael Greene papers 1762-1852 1780-1785 Greene, Nathanael, papers William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Biddle, Clement, 1740-1814. ALS : to Thomas Mifflin, 1792 Jan. 19. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Charles Campbell letters, 1788-1792 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Gwathmey collection, 1708-1852 University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Neville, Presley, 1756-1818. Letter : Pittsburg to his excellency Thomas Mifflin Esqr., Governor of Pennsylvania, 1792 Aug. 3. Newberry Library
referencedIn Mercer, John Francis, 1759-1821. Letter, 1792 October 7, Annapolis, [Maryland], to [Thomas Jefferson], n.p. William & Mary Libraries
referencedIn Lloyd Mifflin Collection, 1905-1911 University of Virginia. Library. Special Collections Dept.
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Jared Sparks collection of American manuscripts, 1582-1843 Houghton Library
referencedIn Northamton County (Pa.) papers, ca. 1682-1887. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Land grant to William Bingham, Esq., for property in Lycoming County from Thomas Mifflin, Governor of Pennsylvania, 1796 University of California, Irvine. Library. Department of Special Collections
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Letter to "the President of Pennsylvania" [manuscript], 1790 May 28. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Mifflin, Thomas, 1744-1800. [Letter and document] / Tho. Mifflin. Smith College, Neilson Library
creatorOf Conewago Canal Company records, 1788-1820. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Hamilton, James, 1752-1819. James Hamilton collection, 1733-1899. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume IV, Miscellany, 1756-1807 Cornell University Library
creatorOf Mifflin, Thomas, 1744-1800,. To his excellency Thomas Mifflin, Governor of Pennsylvania, 1798. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
creatorOf Mifflin, Thomas, 1744-1800. LS, 1784 May 6 : Annapolis, to Governor Clinton. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Pennsylvania Governors correspondence, 1778-1904. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Palfrey family papers, 1713-1915 Houghton Library
referencedIn Fitch, John, 1743-1798. John Fitch papers, 1783-1854. Library of Congress
creatorOf Mifflin, Thomas, 1744-1800. Papers of Thomas Mifflin, 1758-1794. Library of Congress
referencedIn Franklin-Bache Papers, 1707-1799 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Journal of bee-keeping, 1787-1788, 1787-1788 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Mifflin, Thomas, 1744-1800. ALS : Philadelphia, to Clement Biddle, 1795 Apr. 9. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Mifflin, Lloyd, 1846-1921. Letters of Lloyd Mifflin [manuscript], ca. 1905, 1911. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn John Barclay letter, 1793 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, General Assembly Records, 1783-1859 (bulk 1790-1838). Library company of Philadelphia
creatorOf Mifflin, Thomas, 1744-1800. ALS, 1776 November 21 : Elisabeth Town, to Robert Morris, in Congress at Philadelphia. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Gratz, Simon. Alphabetical collection, 1677-1910. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Hay, Southard, 1875-1951,. Southard Hay autograph collection, 1750-1885 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf George Washington collection [Mount Vernon], 1654-1799 George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
creatorOf Letter Pittsburgh, Pa., to Thomas Mif[f]lin, [Philadelphia], Pa., 1791 Apr. 14. Newberry Library
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume XII, Miscellany, 1769-1838 Cornell University Library
creatorOf Harmar, Josiah, 1753-1813. Josiah Harmar papers, 1681-1937. William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Mifflin, Thomas, 1744-1800. Order for payment signed : Philadelphia, 1793 Dec. 10. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Pennsylvania. Land grant to William Bingham, Esq., for property in Lycoming County from Thomas Mifflin, Governor of Pennsylvania, 17 May 1796. University of California, Irvine. Library. Department of Special Collections
referencedIn Marian S. Carson collection of manuscripts, 1656-1995 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn John Adlum letters, 1791-1822 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Pennsylvania Population Land Company. Papers, 1792-1834. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Mifflin, Thomas, 1744-1800. Order, to David Rittenhouse, for the payment of the salary of Robert Ralston, 1786 Sept. 27. Texas Christian University
creatorOf Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804. ALS, 1794 Oct. 10 : Carlisle, Pa., to Thomas Mifflin. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804. Jeremiah Wadsworth business and commissary records, 1759-1847. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Southard Hay autograph collection, 1750-1885 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Nicholson, John, 1757-1800. ALS : to Thomas Mifflin, 1791 Nov. 8. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Paine, Thomas, 1737-1809. Richard Gimbel Collection of Thomas Paine Papers, 1692-1921. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn Richard Henry Lee Papers, 1763-1823 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Josiah Harmar papers 1681-1937 Harmar, Josiah papers William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Thomas Mifflin logic notebook, 1757 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Chew, Benjamin, 1722-1810. Estate papers, 1776-1904. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn General Records of the Department of State. 1763 - 2002. Report to the President on the Sale of Land to Pennsylvania National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Autograph File, M Houghton Library
creatorOf Mifflin, Thomas, 1744-1800. Letters from Thomas Mifflin, 1785, 1792-1793. Wisconsin Historical Society Archives
referencedIn Conewago Canal Company records, 1788-1820 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Library. Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection. 1668-1983. American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume III, Miscellany, 1756-1807 Cornell University Library
referencedIn Benjamin Franklin Papers Part 8 -- Letters to Franklin, 1783 December-1786 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Letter to "the President of Pennsylvania", 1790 May 28. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Mifflin, Thomas, 1744-1800. Thomas Mifflin papers, 1791-1796. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn Washington, George, 1732-1799. Letters to James Madison and Col. Elias Dayton, 1777, 1793. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Carroll, Charles, 1737-1832. Letter to Horatio Gates and portrait, 1776 June 14. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Houghton Library. Houghton Library printed book provenance file, L-Q. 1942. Houghton Library
referencedIn Zebulon Butler letters, 1787-1790 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Biddle, Owen, 1737-1799. Biddle Family Papers, 1793-1951. Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume 13, Miscellany, 1771-1832 Cornell University Library
creatorOf Mifflin, Thomas, 1744-1800. Abridgement of Metaphysics, 1759. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Donath, Joseph. Journal of bee-keeping, 1787-1788. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn Colonel Richard Gimbel Collection of Thomas Paine Papers, 1692 - Circa 1921 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Letter from Thomas Mifflin to James Read 1776 [manuscript] Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, Heinz History Center Detre Library and Archives
referencedIn Wills, 1790-1822, of signers of the Declaration of Independence, 1790-1822 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Berks and Montgomery County Papers, 1693-1869. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Denny, Ebenezer, 1761-1822. Correspondence, 1794. Clarke Historical Library
referencedIn Tallmadge, Benjamin, 1754-1835. Revolutionary War military records, 1776-1783. New Jersey Historical Society Library
referencedIn Torrence, Joseph. Joseph Torrence correspondence, 1792 August 8. Library of Congress
referencedIn Nicholson, John, 1757-1800. Papers, 1772-1819 [microform]. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Henry A. Willard II Collection, 1743-1888, (bulk 1770-1840) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Klos, Stanley L. Forgotten Founders collection, 2008-2009. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Pennsylvania. Secretary of the Commonwealth. Letter, 1798 May 6, [Philadelphia] [to] Brig Gen. Jacob Morgan. Houston Academy of Medicine, Texas Medical Center, Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library
creatorOf Woods, Lawrence C., Jr., 1900-1990. Collection 1743-1801. Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, Heinz History Center Detre Library and Archives
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Collection of documents concerning the American Revolution, 1740-1866 Houghton Library
referencedIn Irvine, William, 1741-1804. Letter, 1790, 1794. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf William L. Clements Library. Nathanael Greene papers, 1762-1852, bulk 1780-1785. William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Smith, Thomas, 1745-1809. Thomas Smith family papers, 1767-1841 (bulk 1793-1810). Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Wills, 1790-1822, of signers of the Declaration of Independence. American Philosophical Society Library
creatorOf Mifflin, Thomas, 1744-1800. ALS : Philadelphia, to Alexander James Dallas, 1795 Jan. 30. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Dawes Collection of Documents on American History, 1681-1921 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Hiltzheimer, Jacob, 1748-1798. Diaries, 1765-1770, 1772-1774, 1777-1798. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn Jacob Hiltzheimer Diaries, 1765-1798 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Pennsylvania. Secretary of the Commonwealth. Letter, 1798 May 4, Philadelphia [to] Brig. Gen. Wm. McPherson. Houston Academy of Medicine, Texas Medical Center, Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library
referencedIn Richard Henry Lee Papers, 1763-1823 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Franklin, Walter, 1773-1838. Lawyer's form book, 1793-1805. Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
referencedIn College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Office of the Secretary. Manuscript archives of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, 1787-1847. College of Physicians of Philadelphia
referencedIn Pennsylvania. Militia. Broadside regarding the Whiskey Insurrection, 1794 December 15. American Periodical Series I
creatorOf Mifflin, Thomas, 1744-1800. ALS : to Clement Biddle, 1792 Feb. 7. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Jacob Bower letter to Thomas Mifflin, 1791 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815. ALS : London, England, to Thomas Mifflin, Philadelphia, Pa., 1796 Feb. 24. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn William A. Oldridge Collection of George Washington's Headquarters Staff Writings, 1775-1962, (bulk 1775-1783) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
Role Title Holding Repository

Filters:

Connection Graph Radial Graph
Relation Name
associatedWith Adlum, John, 1759-1836 person
associatedWith Agassiz, Louis, 1807-1873 person
associatedWith Banks, Joseph, Sir, 1743-1820 person
associatedWith Barclay, John, 1749-1816 person
associatedWith Biddle, Clement, 1740-1814. person
associatedWith Bower, Jacob person
associatedWith Butler-Gunsaulus Collection (University of Chicago. Library) corporateBody
associatedWith Butler, Zebulon, 1731-1795 person
associatedWith Campbell, Charles person
associatedWith Carroll, Charles, 1737-1832. person
associatedWith Carson, Marian S., person
associatedWith Chew, Benjamin, 1722-1810. person
associatedWith Clinton, George, 1739-1812. person
associatedWith College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Office of the Secretary. corporateBody
associatedWith Conewago Canal Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Cooper, Thomas, 1759-1839 person
associatedWith Coues, Elliott, 1842-1899 person
associatedWith Cuvier, Georges, Baron, 1769-1832 person
associatedWith Dallas, Alexander James, 1759-1817, person
associatedWith Darlington, William, 1782-1863 person
associatedWith Dawes, Elizabeth F., collector. person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Denny, Ebenezer, 1761-1822. person
associatedWith Donath, Joseph. person
associatedWith Edison, Thomas A., (Thomas Alva), 1847-1931 person
associatedWith Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955 person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
associatedWith Everett, Edward, 1794-1865 person
associatedWith Febiger, Christian, 1746-1796. person
correspondedWith Fitch, John, 1743-1798. person
associatedWith Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790 person
associatedWith Franklin, Walter, 1773-1838. person
associatedWith Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815. person
associatedWith Genth, F. A., (Frederick Augustus), 1820-1893 person
associatedWith Gratz, Simon. person
associatedWith Gray, Asa, 1810-1888 person
associatedWith Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872 person
associatedWith Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804. person
associatedWith Hamilton, James, 1752-1819. person
associatedWith Harding, Warren G. person
associatedWith Harmar, Josiah, 1753-1813. person
associatedWith Harmar, Josiah, 1802-1848 person
associatedWith Hay, Southard, 1875-1951, person
associatedWith Hiltzheimer, Jacob, 1729? -1798 person
associatedWith Hiltzheimer, Jacob, 1748-1798. person
associatedWith Houghton Library. person
associatedWith Houghton Library. person
associatedWith Houghton Library. person
associatedWith Irvine, William, 1741-1804. person
correspondedWith Irwin, John, 1753-1808. person
associatedWith Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. person
associatedWith Klos, Stanley L. person
associatedWith Lee, Richard Henry, 1732-1794 person
associatedWith McGuire, Thomas. person
associatedWith Mercer, John Francis, 1759-1821. person
associatedWith Mifflin, Lloyd, 1846-1921. person
associatedWith Morris, Cadwalader, 1741-1795, person
associatedWith Morris, Robert, 1734-1806. person
correspondedWith Neville, Presley, 1756-1818. person
associatedWith Newcomb, Simon person
associatedWith Newton, Isaac, Sir, 1642-1727 person
associatedWith Nicholson, John, 1757-1800. person
associatedWith Oldridge, William A. person
associatedWith Paine, Thomas, 1737-1809. person
correspondedWith Palfrey family. family
associatedWith Pennsylvania. corporateBody
associatedWith Pennsylvania. General Assembly corporateBody
associatedWith Pennsylvania. Governor (1790-1799 : Mifflin) corporateBody
associatedWith Pennsylvania. Militia. corporateBody
associatedWith Pennsylvania Population Land Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Pennsylvania. Secretary of the Commonwealth. corporateBody
associatedWith Poinsett, Joel Roberts, 1779-1851 person
associatedWith Ralston, Robert, 1761-1836. person
associatedWith Rittenhouse, David, 1732-1796. person
associatedWith Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813 person
associatedWith Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe, 1793-1864 person
associatedWith Seybert, Adam, 1773-1825 person
associatedWith Smith, Thomas, 1745-1809. person
associatedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Stevens, Henry person
associatedWith Sully, Thomas, 1783-1872 person
associatedWith Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824 person
correspondedWith Torrence, Joseph. person
memberOf United States. Continental Army corporateBody
memberOf United States. Continental Congress corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf University of Pennsylvania. corporateBody
associatedWith Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804. person
associatedWith Washington, George, 1732-1799. person
associatedWith Waterton, Charles, 1782-1865 person
associatedWith Wayne, Anthony person
associatedWith Willard, Henry A., 1822-1909, person
associatedWith Willard, Henry A. (Henry Augustus), 1902- person
associatedWith William L. Clements Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Woods, Lawrence C., Jr., 1900-1990. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Philadelphia PA US
Lancaster PA US
Subject
Boundaries, State
Universities and colleges
Debts, Public
Elections
Governors
Logic
Manuscripts, American
Metaphysics
Ontology
Washington, Fort, Capture of, 1776
Occupation
Army officers
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Governors
Merchants
Activity

Person

Birth 1744-01-10

Death 1800-01-20

Male

Americans,

Britons

English

Related Descriptions
National Archives and Records Administration Virtual International Authority File Wikidata WorldCat Identities LC/NACO
Search Elsewhere
ArchiveGrid Search DPLA Search
Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6621rfp

Ark ID: w6621rfp

SNAC ID: 87394788