Reed, Joseph, 1741-1785

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Joseph Reed (August 27, 1741 – March 5, 1785) was a Founding Father of the United States and a lawyer, military officer, and statesman of the American Revolutionary Era who lived the majority of his life in Pennsylvania. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and, while in Congress, signed the Articles of Confederation. He also served as President of Pennsylvania's Supreme Executive Council, a position analogous to the modern office of Governor.

Reed was born in Trenton in the Province of New Jersey in 1741. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Philadelphia. As a boy, Reed was enrolled at Philadelphia Academy (later to be known as the University of Pennsylvania). He received his bachelor's degree from the College of New Jersey (later known as Princeton University) in 1757 and, soon after, began his professional education under Richard Stockton. In the summer of 1763, Reed sailed for England, where, for two years, he continued his studies in law at Middle Temple in London. At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, Reed ran a successful Philadelphia law practice, from which he resigned at the request of George Washington. In 1775, Reed held the rank of colonel and he subsequently served in the capacity of secretary and aide-de-camp to Washington.

In 1778, Reed was one of the five delegates from Pennsylvania to sign the Articles of Confederation. On December 1, 1778, he was elected President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, a position analogous to the modern office of governor. Reed received 61 of the 63 votes and assumed office immediately. During Reed's tenure as president, in addition to prosecuting Benedict Arnold, Reed oversaw the abolition of slavery in Pennsylvania and the awarding of Revolutionary soldiers with lifelong "half-pay". Pennsylvania passed a law for the gradual abolition of slavery in 1780.

In 1784, Reed visited England with the hope of improving his health but was not successful. He returned to Pennsylvania and died in Philadelphia on March 5, 1785, at the age of 43. Reed was buried in Philadelphia's Laurel Hill Cemetery in 1868.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf United States. Continental Congress. Oath, 1780 Jan. 24-Dec. 8. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Stewart, Charles, 1729-1800. Family papers, 1768-1877 Houghton Library
creatorOf Custis, George Washington Parke, 1781-1857. Battle of Princeton; historical documents. Princeton University Library
referencedIn Washington, George, 1732-1799. George Washington papers, 1592-1937 (bulk 1748-1799). Library of Congress
referencedIn Logan, Deborah Norris, 1761-1839. Diaries, 1815-1839. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Wilkinson, James, 1757-1825. James Wilkinson : miscellaneous papers, 1786-1819. The Filson Historical Society
referencedIn Henry Augustus Philip papers, 1805-1847, 1805-1847 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Jane Aitken Papers, 1784-1814 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Benjamin Randolph ledger, 1768-1787 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Reed, Joseph, 1741-1785. ALS, 1779 August 11 : Philadelphia, to James Smith, York Town. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Richard Henry Lee Papers, 1763-1823 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume VII, Miscellany, 1764-1792 Cornell University Library
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume VI, miscellany, 1774-1807 Cornell University Library
referencedIn United States. Congress. Resolutions regarding the lottery, 1777 February 26. American Periodical Series I
creatorOf Reed, Joseph, 1741-1785. Autograph note signed, 1780 Sept. 9. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Bancroft, George, 1800-1891. ALS, 1852 Jan. 12, New York, to William Bradford Reed, Philadelphia. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866,. Jared Sparks collection of documents concerning the American Revolution, 1740-1866. Houghton Library
referencedIn Wurts, John S. (John Sparhawk), 1876-1958,. Wurts family papers, 1699-1964. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Irvine, William, 1741-1804. William Irvine correspondence, 1780. Library of Congress
referencedIn Hamilton, James, 1752-1819. James Hamilton collection, 1733-1899. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Reed, Joseph, 1741-1785. Correspondence, May-July 1776. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Potter, John, d. ca. 1759. Draper manuscripts: Potter family papers, 1747-1807. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Marian S. Carson collection of manuscripts, 1656-1995 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Livingston, William, 1723-1790. ALS : Trenton, N.J., to Joseph Reed, 1781 Sept. 14. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Gibson, James. Papers, 1712-1846. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Southard Hay autograph collection, 1750-1885 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Jared Sparks collection of American manuscripts, 1582-1843 Houghton Library
referencedIn Espionage papers, 1775-1956 . Houghton Library
creatorOf Livingston, William, 1723-1790. William Livingston papers, 1749-1782. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Miles, Samuel, 1740-1805. Papers, 1776-1802. American Philosophical Society Library
creatorOf Reed, Joseph, 1741-1785. Papers of Joseph Reed [microform], 1757-1795, 1824-1842. HCL Technical Services, Harvard College Library
referencedIn Bancroft, George, 1800-1891. ALS, 1852 Nov. 24, New York, to Henry Hope Reed. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Pennsylvania. Supreme Executive Council. Miscellaneous manuscripts, 1781. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Armstrong, John, 1717-1795. Autograph letter signed : Carlisle, to Joseph Reed, 1780 May 12. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Hay, Southard, 1875-1951,. Southard Hay autograph collection, 1750-1885 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf Reed, Joseph, 1741-1785. Autograph letter signed : to Gen. Greene, 1780 Jan. 12. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Nead, Frank B. Documents, 1663-1866. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Pennsylvania. Supreme Executive Council. Circular letter, 1779 Feb. 8, Philadelphia, to the governors of the states. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Samuel Miles Papers, 1776-1802, 1776-1802 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Reed, Joseph, 1741-1785. Letter, [1783 November 10?], 3d Street, [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania], to [Thomas Jefferson], n.p. William & Mary Libraries
referencedIn Baldwin, Loammi, 1745-1807. Papers, 1768-1872 Houghton Library
referencedIn Autograph File, H Houghton Library
referencedIn Ingraham, Edward D. (Edward Duncan), 1793-1854. Scrapbook, 1843. New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume V, Miscellany, 1764-1792 Cornell University Library
referencedIn William A. Oldridge Collection of George Washington's Headquarters Staff Writings, 1775-1962, (bulk 1775-1783) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Henry family. Papers, 1758-1909. Hagley Museum & Library
creatorOf Washington, George, 1732-1799. Extract of a letter from Gen. Washington to the President of Congress, 1781 Apr. 16. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Reed, Joseph, 1741-1785. Joseph Reed papers, 1757-1785. New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Miscellany, 1755-1835 Cornell University Library
creatorOf Matlack, Timothy, 1736-1829. Pennsylvania militia commission form, ca. 1778-1780. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn Dawes Collection of Documents on American History, 1681-1921 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Maass, Richard, 1919-1998,. The Richard Maass collection of Westchester and New York State, 1645-1910 (bulk 1770-1783). Churchill County Museum
referencedIn Galloway, Grace Growden, d. 1782. Papers, 1778-1781. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Reed, Joseph, 1741-1785. ALS : Burlington, to Ester DeBerdt, 1767 Nov. 17. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Smith, Jonathan Bayard, 1742-1812. The Henley Smith Collection, 1686-1903. Library of Congress
creatorOf St. Clair, Arthur, 1734-1818. ALS : Trenton, N.J., to Joseph Reed, 1781 Jan. 4. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Schley, Reeve, 1881-1960. Papers, 1670-1969. New Jersey Historical Society Library
referencedIn William Livingston papers, 1749-1782 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Ledger of Philadelphia merchants, 1768-1787. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn VOL. II.: G. Carpenter; New York, 23 Mar. 1779, f. 9. Brigadier-General Henry Watson Powell; St. John's, 24 Mar., 6 May, 1779, ff. 15, 30. Captain Richard McCarty, Illinois Battalion; Cahôs, 28 Apr. 1779. Fr. f. 24. Walter Sutherland, Royal Regiment ..., 1775-1782 British Library
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume IX, Miscellany, 1766-1808 Cornell University Library
referencedIn Buchanan, Roberdeau, 1839-1916,. Collection, 1761-1831. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Porter, Elisha, 1742-1796. Elisha Porter papers, 1762-1822. Library of Congress
referencedIn Andrew Boyd letters, 1778-1788 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Butler, Richard, 1743-1791. ALS, 1779 November 29, Camp Light Infantry, 2d River, to Joseph Reed, President of the State of Pennsylvania. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Wilson, James, 1742-1798. LS, 1780 April 19 : Philadelphia, to Joseph Reed, President of Pennsylvania. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Richard Maass Collection of Westchester and New York State, Bulk, 1645-1910, 1645-1995 (Bulk: 1645-1910) Fales Library & Special Collections
referencedIn Du Simitière, Pierre Eugène, ca. 1736-1784. Papers of Pierre Eugène Du Simitière, 1774-1784. Library of Congress
referencedIn John Holker Papers, 1777-1822 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Bancroft, George, 1800-1891. ALS, 1852 Jan. 6, New York, to William Bradford Reed, Philadelphia. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Pennsylvania. Warrant : Philadelphia, to John McGowan, 1780 Apr. 18. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Reed, Joseph, 1741-1785. Order, to David Rittenhouse, for the payment of the salary of Matthew Smith for attendance in Council, 1779 June 11. Texas Christian University
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume X, miscellany, 1764-1805 Cornell University Library
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
referencedIn George Washington papers, 1592-1943 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn George Washington papers, 1592-1943 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Reed, Joseph, 1741-1785. Letters of Joseph Reed, 1775-1784. Library of Congress
referencedIn Brodhead, Daniel, 1736-1809. Draper manuscripts: Daniel Brodhead papers, 1775-1846. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Ely, Edwin A., 1836-1927,. Autograph collection, ca. 1663-1890. New Jersey Historical Society Library
creatorOf Reed, Joseph, 1741-1785. Letters, 1780-1781. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786. Papers, 1777-1780 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Samuel Blair letter to Joseph Reed, 1781 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Pennsylvania. Supreme Executive Council. Order, 1779 Feb. 9. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Lacey, John, 1755-1814. Transcripts, 1849-1854. New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Frost, Samuel, 1751-1817. Samuel Frost orderly book, 1775-1779. Massachusetts Historical Society
creatorOf Reed, Joseph, 1741-1785. Letter : to Thomas Wharton, 1777 Oct. 24. Houghton Library
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Collection of documents concerning the American Revolution, 1740-1866 Houghton Library
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume IV, Miscellany, 1756-1807 Cornell University Library
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associatedWith Aitken, Jane, 1764-1832 person
associatedWith Anthon, Charles Edward, 1822-1883. person
associatedWith Armstrong, John, 1717-1795. person
associatedWith Arnold, Benedict, 1741-1801. person
correspondedWith Baldwin, Loammi, 1740-1807 person
associatedWith Bancroft, George, 1800-1891. person
associatedWith Blair, Samuel, 1741-1818 person
associatedWith Boyd, Andrew, 1739 or 40-1786 person
associatedWith Brodhead, Daniel, 1736-1809. person
associatedWith Buchanan, Roberdeau, 1839-1916, person
associatedWith Butler-Gunsaulus Collection (University of Chicago. Library) corporateBody
associatedWith Butler, Richard, 1743-1791. person
associatedWith Carson, Marian S., person
associatedWith Dawes, Elizabeth F., collector. person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith De Berdt, Dennys, 1694-1770. person
associatedWith De Berdt family. family
associatedWith Donop, Carl Emil von, d. 1777. person
associatedWith Du Simitière, Pierre Eugène, ca. 1736-1784. person
associatedWith Ely, Edwin A., 1836-1927, person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
associatedWith Frost, Samuel, 1751-1817. person
associatedWith Galloway, Grace Growden, d. 1782. person
associatedWith Gibson, James. person
associatedWith Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786, person
associatedWith Hamilton, James, 1752-1819. person
associatedWith Hay, Southard, 1875-1951, person
associatedWith Henry family. family
associatedWith Holker, John, 1745-1822. person
associatedWith Howe, Richard Howe, Earl, 1726-1799. person
associatedWith Ingraham, Edward D. (Edward Duncan), 1793-1854. person
correspondedWith Irvine, William, 1741-1804. person
associatedWith Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826, person
associatedWith Lacey, John, 1755-1814. person
associatedWith Lee, Richard Henry, 1732-1794 person
associatedWith Livingston, William, 1723-1790. person
associatedWith Logan, Deborah Norris, 1761-1839. person
associatedWith Maass, Richard, 1919-1998, person
associatedWith Maass, Richard (collector) person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Middle Temple (London, England) corporateBody
associatedWith Miles, Samuel, 1740-1805. person
associatedWith Morris, Robert, 1734-1806, person
associatedWith Muhlenberg, Henry A., (Henry Augustus), 1823-1854 person
associatedWith Nead, Frank B. person
associatedWith New-York Historical Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Oldridge, William A. person
associatedWith Paine, Thomas, 1737-1809. person
associatedWith Pennsylvania. corporateBody
associatedWith Pennsylvania. Governor corporateBody
memberOf Pennsylvania. Supreme Executive Council. corporateBody
associatedWith Pettit, Charles, 1736-1806. person
associatedWith Porter, Elisha, 1742-1796. person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Princeton University corporateBody
associatedWith Randolph, Benjamin, . 1791 person
associatedWith Reed, Esther, 1747-1780. person
associatedWith Rittenhouse, David, 1732-1796. person
associatedWith Schley, Reeve, 1881-1960. person
associatedWith Smith, James, ca. 1719-1806. person
associatedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866, person
associatedWith St. Clair, Arthur, 1734-1818. person
correspondedWith Stewart, Charles, 1729-1800 person
correspondedWith Stewart, Charles, 1729-1800 person
associatedWith United States. Continental Army corporateBody
memberOf United States. Continental Congress. corporateBody
almaMaterOf University of Pennsylvania corporateBody
correspondedWith Washington, George, 1732-1799. person
associatedWith Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796. person
associatedWith Wharton, Thomas, 1735-1778, person
associatedWith Wilkinson, James, 1757-1825. person
associatedWith Wilson, James, 1742-1798. person
associatedWith Wurts, John S. (John Sparhawk), 1876-1958, person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Philadelphia PA US
Trenton NJ US
London ENG GB
Subject
Military history
Manuscripts, American
Red Bank, Battle of, N.J., 1777
Occupation
Army officers
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Lawyers
Statesmen
Activity

Person

Birth 1741-08-27

Death 1785-03-05

Male

Britons,

Americans

English

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