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Birth: November 22, 1754
Death: March 4, 1807 (age 52)
Colony: Georgia
Occupation: Minister, Scholar, Politician
Significance: Signed the United States Constitution (at the age of 39); served as United States Congressman (1789-1799); served as United States Senator from Georgia (1799-1807) and President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate
Abraham Baldwin was born in Connecticut as the son of blacksmith. Baldwin attended Yale University where he studied to become a minister. During the American Revolution, Baldwin became a Chaplain in the Continental Army. After the Revolutionary War, Baldwin decided to change his career. and he became a lawyer. In 1785, Baldwin moved to Georgia to become the first President of the University of Georgia.
In Georgia, Baldwin became involved in politics, and he was elected to serve in the Continental Congress (Congress of the Confederation) in 1785, and he served off and on until 1788. In 1787, Baldwin was named a member of the Constitutional Convention which met in Philadelphia. At the Constitutional Convention, Baldwin represented Georgia and helped to debate, draft and sign the United States Constitution.
After the newly ratified U.S. Constitution was adopted, Baldwin was elected to the United States House of Representatives to represent his district in Georgia in 1789. Baldwin held his seat in Congress until his term ended in 1799 when Baldwin was elected to represent Georgia in the United States Senate. While in the U.S. Senate, Baldwin rose to the rank of President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate. Baldwin served in the United States Senate until his death 1807 at the age of 52.
Abraham Baldwin in Philadelphia
Baldwin first lived in Philadelphia while he was a member of the Continental Congress while Philadelphia was the capital of the United States. Baldwin helped to write the United States Constitution as a member of the Constitutional Convention which met at Independence Hall in 1787. Baldwin also worked in Congress Hall as a United States Congressman and Senator while Philadelphia was the Capital city of the United States. Today, you can also see a statue commemorating Baldwin for his role in the creation of the United States Constitution in the Signers' Hall exhibit of the National Constitution Center. Signers' Garden pays tribute to the Founding Fathers, including those such as Baldwin who signed the Constitution of the United States. The National Constitution Center, Congress Hall, Signers' Garden and Independence Hall are all visited on The Constitutional Walking Tour!
