Francis Hopkinson

Francis Hopkinson (October 2, 1737 – May 9, 1791) was an American Founding Father , lawyer, jurist, author, and composer. He designed Continental paper money and two early versions of flags, one for the United States and one for the United States Navy .

He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence in July 1776 as a delegate from New Jersey .

Hopkinson served in various roles in the early United States government including as a member of the Second Continental Congress and as a member of the Navy Board. He became the first federal judge of the Eastern District Court of Pennsylvania on September 30, 1789.

Contents

• 1 Education and early career

• 2 Second Continental Congress and judicial service

• 3 Cultural contributions

• 4 Great Seal of the United States

• 5 United States Flag

• 6 Personal life

• 7 Death

• 8 See also

  • 8.1 Bibliography

    • 8.1.1 Books

    • 8.1.2 Essays

  • 8.2 Musical compositions

• 9 Note

• 10 References

• 11 Sources

• 12 External links

Education and early career

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Born on October 2, 1737 (Gregorian ), September 21, 1737 (Julian ) in Philadelphia , Province of Pennsylvania .

Hopkinson received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1757 from the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania ) and an Artium Magister degree in 1760 from the same institution. He was the first American-born composer to write a surviving secular song.

He was secretary of a commission of the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania which made a treaty between the province and certain Indian tribes in 1761. He entered private practice in Philadelphia from 1761 to 1766. He was collector of customs in Salem , Province of New Jersey , in 1763.

Hopkinson spent from May 1766 to August 1767 in England in hopes of becoming commissioner of customs for North America. : 133  Although unsuccessful, he spent time with the future Prime Minister Lord North , Hopkinson's cousin James Johnson , and the painter Benjamin West . Upon his return to Philadelphia in 1768, he sold varieties of fabric and port wine.

In 1768, Hopkinson was elected to the revived American Philosophical Society and served as its curator from 1776 to 1782. He was collector of customs for New Castle , Delaware Colony from 1772 to 1773. He resumed private practice in Bordentown, New Jersey from 1773 to 1774. He was a member of the New Jersey Provincial Council from 1774 to 1776. He was a member of the Executive Council of New Jersey in 1775. He was admitted to practice before the bar of the Supreme Court of New Jersey on May 8, 1775, and was elected an associate justice of that court in 1776 but declined the office.

Second Continental Congress and judicial service

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In 1776, Hopkinson served as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress (Continental Congress ) from June 21 through November 18. : 212  : 218  He was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence, representing New Jersey. He was the Chairman of the Navy Board in Philadelphia from November 18, 1776, to mid-August 1778. : 218  : 234  He was treasurer for the Continental Loan Office in Philadelphia from 1778 to 1781. He was judge of the Admiralty Court of Pennsylvania from 1779 to 1789.

While sitting on the court, in December 1780 Hopkinson was impeached on allegations of accepting payment from litigants, accepting bribes in exchange for appointments, and trading in false certificates. After an impeachment trial , he was acquitted and remained in office.

He was a member of the Pennsylvania Convention which ratified the United States Constitution . : chapter VI : 325 

Hopkin

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