Edward Shippen (III)
Encyclopedia
Edward Shippen was a lawyer, judge, government official, and prominent figure in colonial and post-revolutionary Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
Shippen was born in Philadelphia, the son of merchant Edward Shippen, III. He learned law from Tench Francis
, Pennsylvania's attorney general. He married his mentor's daughter Margaret Francis in 1753, with whom he had nine children. In 1748 he went to London to complete his law studies at the Middle Temple
, and, after returning to Philadelphia, was admitted to the bar. He was appointed judge of the admiralty court in 1755. Three years later he was elected to the city's common council. In 1762 he was appointed prothonotary of the supreme court, a post retained till the Revolution. He became a member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Council
in 1770.
Shippen attempted to stay neutral in the American Revolution
, hoping that the colonies and the mother country would be reconciled. He did not support the extension of royal authority and was therefore not a Loyalist
, but he also opposed the radically democratic Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776
, which sought to reduce the hold on government by powerful families like the Shippens.
He received in 1790 an honorary LL.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania
, of which he was a trustee from 1791 until his death. He was also a member of the American Philosophical Society
.
In 1791, he was appointed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, serving with Jasper Yeates
and Edward Burd, both kinsmen and former students. Shippen became chief justice in 1799, but in 1804 was impeached on flimsy, political grounds. The next year the Pennsylvania Senate acquitted him and his associates. Shippen retired to private life and died soon thereafter, on April 15, 1806 at Philadelphia at age 77.
His third daughter, Margaret Shippen
, was the second wife of Benedict Arnold
.
and Elizabeth Turbutt, on November 29, 1753 at Christ Church
, Philadelphia.
Known children of Edward Shippen and Margaret Francis include:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
.
Shippen was born in Philadelphia, the son of merchant Edward Shippen, III. He learned law from Tench Francis
Tench Francis (Sr.)
Tench Francis was a prominent lawyer and jurist in colonial Maryland and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
, Pennsylvania's attorney general. He married his mentor's daughter Margaret Francis in 1753, with whom he had nine children. In 1748 he went to London to complete his law studies at the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
, and, after returning to Philadelphia, was admitted to the bar. He was appointed judge of the admiralty court in 1755. Three years later he was elected to the city's common council. In 1762 he was appointed prothonotary of the supreme court, a post retained till the Revolution. He became a member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Council
Pennsylvania Provincial Council
The Pennsylvania Provincial Council helped govern the Province of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1776.-References:*----...
in 1770.
Shippen attempted to stay neutral in the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, hoping that the colonies and the mother country would be reconciled. He did not support the extension of royal authority and was therefore not a Loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
, but he also opposed the radically democratic Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776
Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was the state's first constitution following the Declaration of Independence, and has been described as the most democratic in America. It was drafted by Robert Whitehill, Timothy Matlack, Dr. Thomas Young, George Bryan, James Cannon, and Benjamin Franklin...
, which sought to reduce the hold on government by powerful families like the Shippens.
He received in 1790 an honorary LL.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, of which he was a trustee from 1791 until his death. He was also a member of the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
.
In 1791, he was appointed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, serving with Jasper Yeates
Jasper Yeates
Jasper Yeates was a lawyer and judge from Pennsylvania.He was born in Philadelphia into a prominent family, and was sent to the Inns of Court in England for his legal training. He became a resident of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. During the American Revolution he sided with the Patriot cause...
and Edward Burd, both kinsmen and former students. Shippen became chief justice in 1799, but in 1804 was impeached on flimsy, political grounds. The next year the Pennsylvania Senate acquitted him and his associates. Shippen retired to private life and died soon thereafter, on April 15, 1806 at Philadelphia at age 77.
His third daughter, Margaret Shippen
Peggy Shippen
Peggy Shippen, or Margaret Shippen , was the second wife of General Benedict Arnold...
, was the second wife of Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold V was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces...
.
Family
He married Margaret Francis (born August 17, 1735 at Talbot County, Maryland; died May 28, 1794 at Philadelphia), daughter of Tench FrancisTench Francis (Sr.)
Tench Francis was a prominent lawyer and jurist in colonial Maryland and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
and Elizabeth Turbutt, on November 29, 1753 at Christ Church
Christ Church, Philadelphia
Christ Church is an Episcopal church located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1695 by members of the Church of England, who built a small wooden church on the site by the next year. When the congregation outgrew this structure some twenty years later, they decided to erect a new...
, Philadelphia.
Known children of Edward Shippen and Margaret Francis include:
- Elizabeth Shippen was born on September 16, 1754. She married her cousin Col. Edward BurdEdward BurdEdward Burd was a Revolutionary War officer in Pennsylvania and later a Prothonotary of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.-Life:...
, son of Col. James BurdJames BurdJames Burd was a colonial American soldier in the French and Indian War, during which he played an important role in fortifying the Pennsylvania frontier.-Early life:...
and Sarah Shippen, on December 17, 1778. She died on March 26, 1828 at age 73, and was buried at Christ Church, PhiladelphiaChrist Church, PhiladelphiaChrist Church is an Episcopal church located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1695 by members of the Church of England, who built a small wooden church on the site by the next year. When the congregation outgrew this structure some twenty years later, they decided to erect a new...
. - Sarah Shippen was born on February 1, 1756. She married Thomas Lea, son of Thomas Lea and Eleanor, on 21 September 1787. She died in 1831.
- Mary Shippen was born August 15, 1757; she married Dr. William McIlvaine.
- Dr. Edward Shippen was born on December 11, 1758 at Philadelphia. He married Elizabeth Juliana Footman, daughter of Thomas Footman and Eleanor, on November 23, 1785 at Christ Church, PhiladelphiaChrist Church, PhiladelphiaChrist Church is an Episcopal church located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1695 by members of the Church of England, who built a small wooden church on the site by the next year. When the congregation outgrew this structure some twenty years later, they decided to erect a new...
. He died on October 22, 1809 at Burlington, New JerseyBurlington, New JerseyBurlington is a city in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States and a suburb of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 9,920....
, at age 50. He was a physician. He and Elizabeth Juliana Footman had 7 children. - Margaret ShippenPeggy ShippenPeggy Shippen, or Margaret Shippen , was the second wife of General Benedict Arnold...
(known as "Peggy") was born on July 11, 1760. She married Gen. Benedict ArnoldBenedict ArnoldBenedict Arnold V was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces...
V, son of Benedict Arnold III and Hannah Waterman King, on April 8, 1779 at Philadelphia; she was his second wife. She died on August 24, 1804 at London, England, at age 44. - John Francis Shippen was born on November 24, 1762. He was buried on January 8, 1763.
- James Shippen was born on October 9, 1766 at Philadelphia. He was buried on November 10, 1769.
External links
- Biographical sketch and portrait at the University of Pennsylvania
- Biography at Virtualology.com (under his great-grandfather, also Edward Shippen)
- Portrait by Robert FekeRobert FekeRobert Feke was an American portrait painter born on Long Island, New York. Little is known for certain about his life before 1741, which is the year he painted his first portrait, Family of Isaac Royall. Sixteen portraits in total are known to be by Feke, and an additional 50 are disputed to be...
at the Philadelphia Museum of ArtPhiladelphia Museum of ArtThe Philadelphia Museum of Art is among the largest art museums in the United States. It is located at the west end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. The Museum was established in 1876 in conjunction with the Centennial Exposition of the same year...