George Read

George Read (September 18, 1733–September 21, 1798) was an American lawyer and politician from New Castle, Delaware in New Castle County. He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Governor of Delaware, a delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention and U.S. Senator from Delaware.

American Revolution

Read reflected the opinions of most of Delaware by being cautious and very much in favor of trying to reconcile differences with Great Britain. He associated with conservative Patriots like John Dickinson who opposed the Stamp Act and like measures of Parliament, and supported nonimportation measures and dignified protests, but was quite reluctant to pursue the option of outright independence. Nevertheless, from 1764 he led the Delaware Committee of Correspondence and was elected to serve along with the more radical Thomas McKean and Caesar Rodney in the First and Second Continental Congress from 1774 through 1777. He was irregular ini his attendance, though, and when the Congress voted on American Independence on July 2, 1776, Read surprised many by voting against it, requiring Caesar Rodney's overnight ride to break the deadlock in Delaware's delegation in favor of the resolution. However, when the Declaration of Independence was finally adopted, Read signed it, joining the cause in spite of his natural caution.

Related Topics:
Delaware - Great Britain - John Dickinson - Stamp Act - Committee of Correspondence - Thomas McKean - Caesar Rodney - Continental Congress - Declaration of Independence

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