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Discovery of America
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Thirteen Original Colonies
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Colonial Life
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Independence Movement
The Patriots
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Overview of Revolutionary War
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 Sherman,
ROGER, signer of the
Declaration
of Independence; born in Newton,
Massachusetts, April 19,
1721; in early life was a shoemaker, and after the death of his
father (1741) he supported his mother and several younger children
by his industry, at the same time employing all his leisure time in
acquiring knowledge, especially of mathematics. In 1743 he joined an
elder brother in keeping a small store in New Milford,
Connecticut, and the next
year was appointed county surveyor of lands. For several years
(1748—60) he furnished the astronomical calculations for an almanac
published in New York.
Meanwhile he had studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1754.
He was elected to the Connecticut Assembly several times, and in
1759 became a judge of the court of common pleas. Removing to
New
Haven in 1761, he became a judge of the same court there in 1765,
holding the office until 1789. He was also chosen an assistant in
1766, and held the office nineteen years. In 1774 he was chosen
delegate to the first
Continental Congress.
He continued in Congress until his death, at which time he was in
the United States Senate. Judge Sherman was one of the committee
appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence; served on the
most important committees during the war; from 1784 until his death
was mayor of New Haven; and was chiefly instrumental in securing the
ratification of the national Constitution by Connecticut. He was one
of the most useful men of his time.
Jefferson declared that he "never said a foolish thing in his
life." He died in New Haven, Connecticut, July 23, 1793. |
