Secretary to the constitutional convention of 1787 - the 40th signer of the constitution. Major William Jackson, served as secretary on general Washington's staff during the revolutionary war, afterward he was selected as secretary of the constitutional convention of 1787. In that capacity his recordings of the minutes of the convention's deliberations was intended as the official record. His name is signed on the United States constitution attesting its authenticity. William Jackson, born in Cumberland England, was raised by friends of the family in North Carolina after being orphaned. He served in the state militia and continental army. During the revolution, Jackson saw combat in the southern campaigns of the patriot forces in the battles of Ft. Sullivan, the attack on St. Augustine, the Battle of Stono Ferry and the siege of Savannah. Jackson was taken by the British as captive at the siege of Charleston and later returned in a prisoner exchange. Following the war, he studied the law in Philadelphia under William Lewis and was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1788. He served as personal secretary to president George Washington, he was appointed tax collector for the port of Philadelphia by president Washington and later edited a Federalist leaning newspaper in Philadelphia. He died aged 69 in Philadelphia and is buried in the Christ Church burial ground within plot B, in proximity to the grave of Benjamin Franklin. His marker is broken and time has completely eroded its inscription. Christ Church burial ground has nonetheless accurately recorded his burial place.
Secretary to the constitutional convention of 1787 - the 40th signer of the constitution. Major William Jackson, served as secretary on general Washington's staff during the revolutionary war, afterward he was selected as secretary of the constitutional convention of 1787. In that capacity his recordings of the minutes of the convention's deliberations was intended as the official record. His name is signed on the United States constitution attesting its authenticity. William Jackson, born in Cumberland England, was raised by friends of the family in North Carolina after being orphaned. He served in the state militia and continental army. During the revolution, Jackson saw combat in the southern campaigns of the patriot forces in the battles of Ft. Sullivan, the attack on St. Augustine, the Battle of Stono Ferry and the siege of Savannah. Jackson was taken by the British as captive at the siege of Charleston and later returned in a prisoner exchange. Following the war, he studied the law in Philadelphia under William Lewis and was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1788. He served as personal secretary to president George Washington, he was appointed tax collector for the port of Philadelphia by president Washington and later edited a Federalist leaning newspaper in Philadelphia. He died aged 69 in Philadelphia and is buried in the Christ Church burial ground within plot B, in proximity to the grave of Benjamin Franklin. His marker is broken and time has completely eroded its inscription. Christ Church burial ground has nonetheless accurately recorded his burial place.
Bio by: Spirit76
