Penman of the founding A biography of John Dickinson
Book - 2024
"Early November on the Eastern Shore of Maryland is a fine time of year. The breezes off the Chesapeake Bay are sufficiently cool to turn the leaves vibrant but still mild enough to give hope for an Indian summer. In the 18th century fishermen could catch blue crab for a few more weeks; enslaved people, indentured servants, and farmers sowed the winter wheat; and women poured candles to see them through the impending winter. Although planters had long grown tobacco here, by 1732, the year John Dickinson was born, grains were more profitable as tobacco prices stagnated. Public tobacco houses still dotted the landscape, and the acrid smell of the drying weed seeped from black barns and mingled with the pungent scent of the Bay"--
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- Subjects
- Genres
- Biographies
- Published
-
New York, NY :
Oxford University Press
[2024]
- Language
- English
- Main Author
- Physical Description
- xxviii, 575 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 24 cm
- Bibliography
- Includes bibliographical references and index.
- ISBN
- 9780197541692
- Acknowledgments
- Chronology of the Life of John Dickinson
- Abbreviations and Short Titles
- Introduction: "A Wheel to effect the general Good": Understanding John Dickinson's Pivotal Role at the Founding
- Prologue: "The most distinguished of patriots": The Congress of the United States Remembers John Dickinson, February 1808
- 1. "Nursd in the Arms of Liberty": Growing Up in Early America, 1732-1753
- 2. "The Noblest Aim of Human Abilities & Industry": Legal Training in London, 1753-1757
- 3. "Defending the Innocent & redressing the Injurd": Practicing Law in Philadelphia, 1757-1759
- 4. "Congratulate Me on my Salvation": Election to Public Office, 1759-1763
- 5. "So long and so dangerous a voyage": Towards Liberty in Pennsylvania, 1763-1764
- 6. "Created in us by the decrees of Providence": Defining and Defending American Rights, 1765-1766
- 7. "By uniting We stand, by dividing We fall": Creating American Identity and Unity, 1767-1768
- 8. "Pursue moderate measures with vigour": Leader of the Resistance, 1769-1773
- 9. "Freedom or an honorable Death": The Continental Congresses, 1774-1775
- 10. "As the rock among the waves": Supporting America against Americans, 1776-1777
- 11. "From the Mist of Doubts to the Sunshine of Belief Quaker Politics in Congress and the Delaware Presidency, 1778-1782
- 12. "Through a Wilderness of Difficulties": President of Pennsylvania, 1782-1785
- 13. "A labour of public love": Reconstituting the American People, 1786-1791
- 14. "I love Mankind": A Citizen Activist, 1791-1799
- 15. "A constant Watchman for the public Interest": A Politician behind the Scenes, 1800-1804
- 16. "To bear my public Testimony": Once More into Politics, 1804-1808
- Epilogue: "My Name remembered by Posterity": The Dismantling of a Legacy, 1808-2024
- Notes
- Index