James Wilson Documents 1779-1796

  1. Resources
  2. View Resource

ArchivalResource

James Wilson Documents 1779-1796

http://dla.library.upenn.edu/dla/pacscl/ead.html?id=PACSCL_UPENN_BIDDLE_USPULPULMSS016

Born on September 14, 1742 in Carskerdo, Fife, Scotland. Although James Wilson attended numerous universities while living Scotland, he never attained a degree. It was Wilson's pursuit of studying law that helped pave become a significant figure in American history. Wilson began studying law at the law office of John Dickinson. By 1766, Wilson attained the bar in Philadelphia and soon after opened his own practice in Reading. Wilson was fairly successful as a lawyer and he managed to amass a small fortune during this time. Wilson's greatest achievement in public life was his part in the establishment of the United States Constitution. He regularly advocated the idea that sovereignty resided in the people, that the President and members of both houses of Congress should be popularly elected. This small yet historically significant collection contains a select number of original documents that highlight the political and professional activities of James Wilson. The documents specifically reveal Wilson's achievements as a prominent American lawyer, politician, and businessman which helped solidify his legacy in early American history.

12.0 items

University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library: Manuscripts Collection

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 6328688

Related Entities

There are 1 Entities related to this resource.

Wilson, James, 1742-1798

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6jr1s1q (person)

James Wilson (September 14, 1742 – August 21, 1798) was an American statesman, politician, legal scholar, and Founding Father who served as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1789 to 1798. He was elected twice to the Continental Congress, was a signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence, and was a major force in drafting the United States Constitution. A leading legal theorist, he was one of the six original justices appointed by George Washington to the...