Fitzsimons, Thomas, 1741-1811

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Thomas Fitzsimons (October 1741 – August 26, 1811) was an Irish-American merchant, slaveholder, and statesman from Philadelphia. He represented Pennsylvania in the Continental Congress, the Constitutional Convention, and the United States House of Representatives. He was a signatory of the Constitution of the United States and is considered one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.

Born in the Kingdom of Ireland, his family immigrated to Philadelphia in the mid-1750s. Fitzsimons entered a mercantile house as a clerk there, later forming a business partnership with George Meade. Their firm, which specialized in the West Indies trade, successfully operated for over 41 years. When Pennsylvania began mobilizing and organizing a militia to fight the British, Fitzsimons was became involved. He served as captain of a company of home guards, which he raised under the command of Colonel John Caldwalader. Initially, his company served as part of the soldiers who manned posts along the New Jersey coast to defend against invasion. His unit later served as part of the reserve at the 1776 Battle of Trenton. Later in the war, he served on the Pennsylvania Council of Safety and headed a board to oversee the newly formed Pennsylvania Navy. Under this role, he helped organize the strategic resources of Pennsylvania and later provided supplies, ships, and money in support of Pennsylvanian and French forces.

Thomas Fitzsimons entered politics as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1782 and 1783. He was a member of Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1786 until 1795. He was also a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention in 1787. Fitzsimons was one of three Catholic signers of the United States Constitution, the others being Daniel Carroll and Charles Carroll of Maryland. After the Constitution was established, he served in the first three sessions of the House of Representatives as a Federalist, where he favored protective tariffs and a strong navy, co-drafting the 1794 law authorizing the original six frigates of the United States Navy. Fitzsimons failed to win re-election in 1794, in part due to public opinion turning against the Federalist Party for its support of the Whisky Rebellion.

Although he never held elective office again, Fitzsimons served in 1798 as head of the committee of merchants overseeing the subscription-loan to build a warship at private expense for use in the Quasi-War. In 1796, FitzSimons, along with James Innes of Virginia, was appointed by President John Adams to serve as one of two American members on the five-man debt commission charged under Article VI of the Jay Treaty with examining the claims of British subjects unable to collect debts incurred by Americans prior to the American Revolution. After withdrawing from politics, Fitzsimons remained active in civic and business affairs. He served as president of Philadelphia's Chamber of Commerce, as a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, director of the Delaware Insurance Company, and a director of the Bank of North America.

Fitzsimons died in Philadelphia and was buried in the cemetery of St. Mary's Catholic Church there.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Young, Sgt. Journal, 1776-1777. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Witherspoon, John. Autograph letter signed : Princeton, to the Hon. Thomas Fitzsimons, 1787 Aug. 20. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Fitzsimons, Thomas, 1741-1811. Clipped signature : Philadelphia, [n.d.]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn John Holker Papers, 1777-1822 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf FitzSimons, Thomas, 1741-1811. ALS, 1794 April 14 : [s.l.], to I. Nicholson. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf FitzSimons, Thomas, 1741-1811. Resolution on impediments in Virginia [manuscript copy], 1798. Massachusetts Historical Society
referencedIn Provincial delegates letters, 1754-1829. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf FitzSimons, Thomas, 1741-1811. Papers, 1808. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Hay, Southard, 1875-1951,. Southard Hay autograph collection, 1750-1885 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf FitzSimons, Thomas. Autograph letter signed : Philadelphia, R. Gilmer, Esq., 1791 Nov. 14. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
referencedIn North American Land Company ledger, 1795-1805, 1795-1805 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Maitland family. Papers, 1729-1896 (inclusive), 1729, 1779-1896 (bulk). Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Griffen, Cyrus, 1748-1810. Letters, 1788-1810. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf FitzSimons, Thomas. Autograph letter signed : Philadelphia, to Mr. Robert Gilmer, 1786 Aug. 8. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf FitzSimons, Thomas, 1741-1811. Letter : New York, to Benjamin Rush, 1789 Jun 20. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Fitzsimons, Thomas, 1741-1811. Autograph note signed : [n.p.], to an unidentified recipient, 1795 June 3. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Sumter, Thomas, 1734-1783. Thomas Sumter (1734-1832) papers, 1783-1931, (bulk 1783-1832). University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. ALS : to Thomas Fitzsimons, 1782 Nov. 8. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf FitzSimons, Thomas, 1741-1811. Thomas Fitzsimons Papers, 1784-1811 (inclusive). Porterville Public Library
creatorOf FitzSimons, Thomas, 1741-1811. Letter : New York, to Benjamin Rush, 1789 Jun 20. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf FitzSimons, Thomas, 1741-1811. Journal, 1781-1786. . Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn North American Land Company. Ledger, 1795-1805. American Philosophical Society Library
creatorOf FitzSimons, Thomas, 1741-1811. [Letters] Thos. FitzSimons. Smith College, Neilson Library
referencedIn Samuel Sitgreaves papers 1800 Sitgreaves, Samuel papers William L. Clements Library
creatorOf FitzSimons, Thomas. Autograph letters signed : to Henry Hill, Esq., 1797 Feb. 20. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn marine insurance policy, 1792-1806. Temple University Libraries, Paley Library
referencedIn Philadelphia Board of Trade. Records, 1801-1942. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Sargent, Winthrop, 1753-1820. Winthrop Sargent papers, 1755-1865. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf FitzSimons, Thomas. Autograph letter signed : to Mr. John Mease, Monday, (1783) Dec. 22. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Nathan Sellers records, 1771-1844, 1771-1844 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. Letter : Dorchester, [S.C.], to [Thomas Fitzsimmons?], 1786 May 30. South Carolina Historical Society
creatorOf FitzSimons, Thomas, 1741-1811. ALS : Philadelphia, to Henry Clymer, [17]98[?] July 25. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Library. Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection. 1668-1983. American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Sellers, Nathan, 1751-1830. Records, 1771-1844. American Philosophical Society Library
creatorOf FitzSimons, Thomas, 1741-1811. ALS, 1796 May 31, Philadelphia to Peter John and James Dowdy, Montserrat. Independence Seaport Museum
referencedIn Southard Hay autograph collection, 1750-1885 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf FitzSimons, Thomas, 1741-1811. Papers, 1793-1800. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf FitzSimons, Thomas, 1741-1811. Thomas FitzSimons correspondence, 1798-1803. Library of Congress
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Fitzsimons, Thomas, 1741-1811. Document signed : [n.p.], 1788. Pierpont Morgan Library.
Role Title Holding Repository
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associatedWith North American Land Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Pendleton, Nathaniel, 1756-1821, person
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Place Name Admin Code Country
Philadelphia PA US
Ireland 00 IE
Subject
Bankruptcy
Land speculation
Merchants
Real property
Occupation
Clerks
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Merchants
Public officials
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Slaveholders
Activity

Person

Birth 1741-10

Death 1811-08-26

Male

Britons,

Americans

English

Information

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