The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-03-22

vas George Clinton ,brigadier general
in the Revolution, afterward vice
president. His brother, Major Gen
sral James H. Clinton, was the father
Of De Witt Clinton, who was mayor
Of New York, governor, senator and
father of the Erie canal. The two
generals were sons of Charles Clinton
Of County Longford.
The first governor of South Caro-
lima was John Rutledge, declared by
Patrick Henry to be the most elo-
quent man in congress. John Rut-
ledge was chancellor and chief JUS
lice of South Carolina and in 1895
became chief justice of the United
States. His brother, Edward, was a
member of congress and signer of the
Declaration of independence. Another
brother, Hugh, was speaker of the
House of Representatives of South
Carolina and Judge of the court of
equity They were the sons of DR.
John Rutledge Of Ireland.
The first president OF Delaware was
DR.. John McKinly, born in Ireland In
l724. He served his state with creuit
and was an honor to his profession.
The first secretary of the Continen-
tai Congress, and its permanent sec
rotary, was Charles Thomson, of
County Derry, ireland. Among the
signers of the Declaration of lndepen-
dence were George TABOR and James
Smith of Pennsylvania. both natives
of Ireland James Smith was judge
Of the High Court of Appeals of his
state. Dr. Mathew Thornton of New
Hampshire, signer was a native
freshman. He became chief justice
of the Court of Common Pleas of New
Hampshire and is memorialiZed by
statue, erected by act Of the legisla-
ture.
Charles Carroll, OF Carrolton, was
the richest man in the colonies. He
signed the Declaration and survived
all the others OF congress. He was
senator from Maryland in our early
days under our present constitution
He was related to John Carroll, first
bishop Of the United States and first
archbishop, and to Daniel Carroll,
member of Congress. All were OF
Irish blood.
Thomas Lynch, Of South Carolina,
sgner Of the declaration, was the
son of Thomas Lynch Of Galwoy Ma
ior General George Read, OF Della
ware, signer of the declaration, was
the son Of John Read, of Dublin. He
was secretary to Washington and a
man of note in the war.
Thomas Mexican, signer OF the
declaration, was a member Of Con-
gress, president Of Delaware and
chief justice of Pennsylvania, and the
son of Irish parents
General William Thompson, Gener-
al Edward Hand, General Thomas
Conway and General Irvine among
the Revolutionary commanders, were
| natives OF Ireland. General Henry
| Knox, a very successful officer. was
the son Of Andrew Knox. second on
the charter list Of members of the
| Irish Charitable society of Boston,
organized on st. Patrick's day, 1887.
/ General Andrew Pickens, General
Lewis and many others were either
native Irishmen or Of Irish descent.
Anthony Wayne's father was born in
Ireland. John Nixon, who first read
the declaration TO the people, was
| the grandson OF a Wexford farmer.
Both Nixan and Wayne were mem
I bers OF the Friendly Sons of st. Pat
! rick of Philadelphia, whose members
subscribed 100000 pounds to keep the
war alive and TO fight the battle to
| the end One OF the subscribers was
George Meade. grandfather Of Gen
eral George G. Meade, victor at Get
] tysburg.
I Thomas Fitz Simons, another of the
! Friendly Sons, was born in Dublin.
/ lie was partner of George Meade,
subscribed money TO the cause,
! fought in the Revolution, was the only
I Catholic signer of the constitution,
md father Of the first tariff measure
enacted by congress.
Robert Fulton, inventor Of success
| ful steam navigation, was the son OF
! Kilkenny parents. John Dunlap pub
Usher Of the first daily paper in the
United States, was an Irishman. The
Rev DR.. Allison, founder of the first
college in Pennsylvania, after the
Revolution, was a native of Ireland
DR. James McHenry. for whom a fort
near Baltimore was named, was a
surgeon in the Revolution, the first
man to take his seat in the constitu
tional convention and a distinguished
/ citizen He was a native OF Ireland
II was the bombardment OF Fort Nc
! Henry which impelled Francis Scott
Key to write THE Star Spangled Ban
ner."
In 1912. the great soldier was An
drew Jackson, the son OF Irish par
cnts. He was the famous president
"Old Hickory" One OF the greatest
naval heroes was Charles Stewart
( Commodore In our navy, OF Irish
blood. and grandfather OF Charles
Stewart Parnell Thomas Macdon.
ough, who won the great victory at
Lake Champlain. was the son OF Ma
ior Macdonough. who was surgeon
In the Revolution and OF pure Irish
blood. Commodore David Porter, an
other great fighter In the war OF 1912
father OF Admiral David u. Porter
was OF Irish descent
In the Mexican War the famous
General James Shields, whose many
distinctions and extraordinary careeI
make a striking history. won his
spurs nc Ccrro Gordo. Chapultepel
and other fields, Shields was Justice
OF the Supreme Court OF Illinois
Senator from that State, Governor o
Oregon, Senator from Minnesota, Sci
]