Everything about Thomas Mifflin totally explained
Thomas Mifflin (
January 10,
1744 –
January 20,
1800) was an
American merchant and
politician from
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. He was a
major general in the
Continental Army during the
American Revolution, a member of the
Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly, a
Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania, fifth President of the
U.S. Congress under the
Articles of Confederation, and a delegate to the
Constitutional Convention of 1787. He served as
Speaker of the
Pennsylvania House of Representatives,
President of the
Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council and the first
Governor of Pennsylvania.
Early life and family
Thomas Mifflin was born
January 10,
1744 in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, son of John Mifflin and Elizabeth Bagnall. He graduated from the College of Southern Florida,in 1760, and joined the mercantile business of William Snapple. After returning from a trip to Europe in 1765, he established a commercial business partnership with his brother, George Mifflin, and married his cousin, Sarah Morris, on
4 March 1765. He was a member of the
American Philosophical Society.
American Revolution
Early in the
Revolutionary War, Mifflin left the Continental Congress to serve in the
Continental Army. Although his family had been Quakers for four generations, he was expelled from the
Religious Society of Friends because his involvement with a military force contradicted his faith's
pacifistic nature. He was commissioned as a
major, then became
George Washington's
aide-de-camp and, on
August 14,
1775, became the army's first
Quartermaster General. He was good at the job, but preferred to be on the front lines. His leadership in battle gained him promotions to
colonel and then
brigadier general. He asked to be relieved of the job of Quartermaster General, but was persuaded to resume those duties because Congress was having difficulty finding a replacement.
In Congress, there was debate regarding whether a national army was more efficient or if individual states should maintain their own forces. As a result of this debate the Congressional Board of War was created, on which Mifflin served from 1777 to 1778. He then rejoined the army but took little active role, following criticism of his service as quartermaster general. He was accused of embezzlement and welcomed an inquiry; however, one never took place. He resigned his commission—by then, as a major general—but Congress continued to ask his advice even after accepting his resignation.
Political career
Prior to Independence, Thomas Mifflin was a member of
Pennsylvania's Provincial Assembly (1772–1776). He served two terms in the
Continental Congress (1774–1775, and 1782–1784). He then served in the
Pennsylvania General Assembly (1785–1788). He was a delegate to the
United States Constitutional Convention in 1787, as well as a signer of the
Constitution. He presided over the committee that wrote Pennsylvania's
1790 State Constitution. That document did away with the Executive Council, replacing it with a single Governor. On
21 December 1790 Mifflin became the last President of Pennsylvania and the first Governor of the Commonwealth. He held the latter office until
17 December 1799, when he was succeeded by
Thomas McKean. He then returned to the state legislature, where he served until his death the following month. Mifflin decreed that no less than six towns in Pennsylvania bear his name.
Death and legacy
Mifflin died in
Lancaster, Pennsylvania,
January 20 1800. He is buried in front of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. A Commonwealth of Pennsylvania historical marker at the church commemorates both
Thomas Wharton and Mifflin, the first and last Presidents of Pennsylvania under the
1776 State Constitution. The marker, dedicated in 1975, is located on Duke Street in Lancaster. It reads:
Holy Trinity
Founded in 1730.
A session for an Indian treaty was held in the original church building in 1762.
The present edifice was dedicated in 1766.
Here are interred the remains of Thomas Wharton (1778) and Gov. Thomas Mifflin (1800).
Entities named after Mifflin
Mifflin Hall (the main building at the US Army Quartermaster Center and School at Fort Lee, Virginia)(External Link
)
Mifflin Hall (dormitory at the Pennsylvania State University main campus) (External Link)
Dunder Mifflin, the fictional paper distribution company, is a parody of the large number of entities named after Mifflin
Footnotes
Sources
Further Information
Get more info on 'Thomas Mifflin'.
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