Delegates to the Constitutional Convention

State: Delaware (Born in Cecil County, Maryland)

Age at Convention: 53

Date of Birth: 9/18/1733

Date of Death: 9/21/1798

Schooling: No college experience

Occupation: Lawyer, Judge, Politician

Prior Political Experience: Attorney General for Lower Delaware 1763-1774, provincial assembly 1765-1777, Continental Congress 1774-1777, President of state constitutional convention 1776, state house of representatives 1779-1780, judge of the United States Court of Appeals in admiralty cases 1782, Representative to Annapolis Convention

Committee Assignments: Third Committee of Representation, Committee of Trade

Convention Contributions: George Read arrived at the start of the Convention and had almost perfect attendance for the rest of the convention (it is not confirmed if he was in attendance on September 11, 1787). Read was known for his support of small states and a strong executive. William Pierce stated that “his legal abilities are said to be very great, but his powers of Oratory are fatiguing and tiresome to the last degree.” 

New Government Participation: Mr. Read served in the senate (1789-1793) and later as Delaware’s Chief Justice until his death in 1798.