The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-12-11
Biographical.
Ut nc NVttI " IT !.
GEORGE READ.

man breast, ana is manifested among all
nations: 50 that wherever the lot of man
is cast, his thoughts will fondIy turn to
the place Of his nativity as the brightest
spot on earth, and his heart will beat
lighter as memory recalls the associa-
tons of hi, early youth, and the cher
1shpd home Of his early joys. Intimate
" connected with these pleasu,able
emotions. is TINT feeling of patriotic
pride which we enjoy while referring to
those distinguished bpnelactors OF the
human race, who have grown on the
same sol! with ourselves, and have
claimed the same land as their birth
place.
The distinguished individual whose
name stands at the head Of this article,
wa native Of Cecil county, and one of
the original signers that immortal in
strumrnt--the American Declaration OF
Indrpendencc-an instrument, consd-
ering the circumstances under which it
issued, the important bearing it has al
ready had on the human race; and what
its instrumentaIlty is yet destined to
achieve, which has no parallel III the
history of man.
.inhn Read, a native oi the city Of
Dublin, emigratcd to America and set
tied in Cecil county, in the proyinc" Of
Maryland. The place Of his location
was on the North East, near where john
Mrarns Esq now resides, where he be-
came a respectable planter, HIS son
George, who was the eldest of SIX
brothers, was born in the year 1871.
Soon after this he removed to the head
waters OF the Christana in the province
Of Delaware.
George was sent to the New London
Academy, then under the charge OF the
Rev. DR.. Allison, which in those days
was school of considerable reputation.
He found among his fellow pupils,
Charles Thompson, afterwards Secreta-
~ to Congress, and Hugh Williamson,
Of North Carolina, afterwards member
OF Congress. and also DR.. Ewing, ma
tive OF Cecil county, who became Pro-
vost Of the University of Pennsylvania,
and was eminent as a mathematician
and astronomer.
In his seventeenth wear George Read
commenced the study Of law under
James Moand Esq, an eminent lawyer
Of Philadelphia. He was admitted TO
the bar at TIL" carly age OF nineteen
years. BY the laws of Maryland and
Delaware, he, az the eldest son was en-
titled to large share of his fathers
property, but this he generously reIin-
quished by deed; assigning as a reason,
that the expenses Of his education were
his full share OF his fathers property.
In !75t he settled in New Castle and
commenced the practice Of the law ii
the three lower counties on the Della
ware, and in the adjacent ones in Mary
land. In 1863, lie received the appoint
ment Of Attorney General for the three
lower counties on Delaware, and in the
same wear married daughter OF the
/ Rev. George Ross, who had been for
fifty years the pastor of Emmanuel
Church in New Castle. In 1865 he
he took his seat in the General Assem-
bly, OF Delaware, and was the author of
several addresses made by the legislature
of Delaware to George the third. In
l77A Mr.. Read was elected by the Gen
eraI Assembly of Delaware, with Cesar
Rodney and Thomas Mexican Esqs.. to
represent the State in the American
Congress which met in Philadelphia in
the month OF September. Mr.. Read
represented the State of Delaware in
Congress, during the whole Of the Rev
olutonary War, except short interval.
soon after the Declaration of lndepen-
dence, gentleman observed to Mr.
Read, that he had signed it with hal
ter about his neck: Mr.. Read replied,
that it was a measure demanded by the
crisis, and he was prepared to meet any
consequences that might ensue.
In 1176 he was president Of the Con-
venton which formed the first Consti-
tuition Of Delaware. In 1777, he was
compelled to assume the duties of Chief
Magistrate of Delaware, in consequence
of the capture of President Mckinley.
In 1882, Mr.. Read was appointed by
Congress, one Of the Judges OK the
Court Of Appeals in Admiralty cases.
In 1888 he was appointed by Congress
one Of the Commissioners who consti
tuted Federal Court for determining a
controversy which had arisen between
New York and Massachusetts,, relative
to territory. In 1886, he was a dele
gate to Annapolis, for the formation of
system OF commercial regulations. In
1857, he was member Of the Conven-
ton which formed the Constitution of
the United States, and Immediately af.
ter the adoption thereof, he was elect