John Dickenson, "Penman of the Revolution"

1081 words

John Dickinson - "Penman of the Revolution"
by Mary Jo Minarik

For anyone who's ever seen the movie "1776", you probably came away from it with the impression that John Dickinson was no patriot. I know I did. Nothing could be further from the truth.
One of the lesser known characters in the story of our founding, John Dickinson was nevertheless, one of its most eloquent and patriotic spokesmen. He was born in Maryland in 1732 and educated in Delaware. He spent three years in London, and upon his return, settled in Philadelphia to practice law.
The War for Independence did not just 'happen' in 1776. It was a long time coming. As far back as 1765 when the despised Stamp Act was passed, there were rumblings. In response to the Act, Dickinson published his first elaborate piece, The Late Regulations Respecting the British Colonies on the Continent of America Considered, in which he reasoned that the best way to get Britain to repeal the tax was throug...