If you are like most Americans, you probably can name a few of the people who signed the Constitution. Everyone knows of the involvement of George Washington, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, and maybe a few others. But I bet you know very little about one of the men from Massachusetts: Nathaniel Gorham.
Gorham, an eldest child was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1738, and was the son of Captain Nathaniel Gorham (who operated a packet boat) and his wife, Mary Soley. He was a descendant of John Howland (c. 1599-1673) who was one of the Pilgrims who traveled from England to North America on the Mayflower, signed the Mayflower Compact, and helped found the Plymouth colony. His sister, Elizabeth Gorham, who married John Leighton, was the ancestor of Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt the second wife of Theodore Roosevelt who served as First lady of the United States during his presidency from 1901 to 1909.
Nathaniel’s education was minimal. When he was about 15 years of age, he was apprenticed to a New London, CT, merchant. He quit in 1759, returned to his hometown and established a business which quickly succeeded. On September 6, 1763 he wed Rebecca Call (who was a widow), who was to bear nine children.
Gorham began his political career as a public notary but soon won election to the colonial legislature (1771-75). During the American Revolution, he unswervingly backed the Whigs. He was a delegate to the provincial congress (1774-75), member of the Massachusetts Board of War (1778-81), delegate to the constitutional convention (1779-80), and representative in both the upper (1780) and lower (1781-87) houses of legislature, including speaker of the latter in 1781, 82, and 85. In the last year, though he apparently lacked formal legal training, he began a judicial career as judge of he Middlesex County court of common pleas (1782-83), and held Governor’s Council (1788-89).
During the war, British troops had ravaged much of Gorham's property, though by privateering and speculation he managed to recoup most of his fortune. Despite these pressing business concerns and his state political and judicial activities, he also served the nation. He was a member of the Continental Congress (1782-83 and 1785-87), and held the office of president from June 1786 until January 1787.
The next year, at age 49, Gorham attended the Constitutional Convention. A moderate nationalist, he attended all the sessions and played an influential role. He spoke often, acted as chairman of the Committee of the Whole, and sat on the Committee of Detail. As a delegate to the Massachusetts ratifying convention, he stood behind the Constitution.
Some unhappy years followed. Gorham did not serve in the new government he had helped to create. In 1788 he and Oliver Phelps of Windsor, CT, and possibly others, contracted to purchase from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 6 million acres of unimproved land in western New York. The price was $1 million in devalued Massachusetts scrip. Gorham and Phelps quickly succeeded in clearing Indian title to 2,600,000 acres in the eastern section of the grant and sold much of it to settlers. Problems soon arose, however. Massachusetts scrip rose dramatically in value, enormously swelling the purchase price of the vast tract. By 1790 the two men were unable to meet their payments. The result was a financial crisis that led to Gorham's insolvency--and a fall from the heights of Boston society and political esteem.
Gorham died in 1796 at the age of 58 and a eulogy was delivered in his memory by Dr. Thomas Welch of Charlestown. He is buried at the Phipps Street Cemetery in Charlestown, MA. Gorham Street in Madison, Wisconsin is named in his honor.
Nathaniel Gorham's descendants number in the thousands today. Some of his notable descendants include:
-Bishop Phillips Brooks, was an American clergyman and author, who briefly served as Bishop of Massachusetts in the Episcopal Church during the early 1890s. He is best known for authoring the Christmas carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem".
-John Quincy Adams II, was an American lawyer and politician, the son of Charles Francis Adams and the grandson and namesake of president John Quincy Adams.
-Charles Francis Adams III, was the United States Secretary of the Navy under President Herbert Hoover and a well-known yachtsman.
-Charles Francis Adams IV, was a U.S. electronics industrialist. He served as the first president of the Raytheon Company.
-Benjamin Gorham, was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts.
-Brooks Adams, was an American historian and a critic of capitalism.
-Henry Adams, was an American journalist, historian, academic and novelist. He is best known for his autobiographical book, The Education of Henry Adams.
-William Everett, was the son of Charlotte Gray Brooks and orator Edward Everett who spoke at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
-Octavius Brooks Frothingham, was an American clergyman and author.
-Catherine Bartlett, was the wife of James Walker, who was the President of Harvard College from 1853 to 1860. Walker was also a Unitarian minister and religious philosopher.
-Charlotte Gray Brooks was the wife of Edward Everett an American politician and educator from Massachusetts. He served as president of Harvard College.
-Peter Bulkeley Greenough was an American journalist and editor. He was the husband of opera singer Beverly Sills.
-Gorham Parks, was a U.S. Representative from Maine, and a Democratic Party candidate for Maine Governor.
In the end, Nathaniel Gorham faithfully served his government despite his little education. He helped draft the most important document ever written in America. Now you know about another of our Founding Fathers.
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