George Read, Delaware

    Read was a native of Maryland, studied law in Philadelphia, and set up a practice in Delaware. Although he opposed the Stamp Act, he was very conservative about independence. Because he opposed the Declaration, Thomas McKean sent for Caesar Rodney to cast the tie-breaking vote. However, he did sign the Declaration.
    In 1777, John McKinley, president of Delaware, was captured by the British. Thomas McKean had assumed the office temporarily, but he was relieved by Read, who in turn was replaced by Caesar Rodeny in an election the following year.
    Read attended the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and led Delaware to ratify the Constitution first. A member of the Federalist party, Read was a United States Senatorfrom 1789 to 1793, after which he was appointed to the Delaware supreme court.
    Read died in Delaware on September 21, 1798, at the age of 65.

Back to the cast page