George Partridge
Encyclopedia
George Partridge was an American
teacher and politician. He represented Massachusetts
as a delegate to the Continental Congress
and as a Representative in the U.S. House
.
, graduating in 1762 and obtaining a Master's degree in 1765. He studied theology but never entered the active ministry. Instead, he became a school teacher in Kingston, Massachusetts
.
, a provisional government formed to replace the Massachusetts General Court
which had been suspended by Royal Governor Gen. Thomas Gage
. Of the first meeting of the Provincial Congress, Partridge wrote:
Partridge then served with the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from 1775 to 1779. In 1779 the legislature named him a delegate to the Continental Congress. He was reappointed continuously until 1785, although he missed the session held in Princeton, New Jersey
in 1783.
When the new government of the United States was installed Partridge was elected to the First United States Congress as a representative of . He served from March 4, 1789 until he resigned on August 14, 1790.
Partridge died at home in Duxbury in 1828 and is buried in the Mayflower Cemetery there.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
teacher and politician. He represented Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
as a delegate to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
and as a Representative in the U.S. House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
Background
Partridge was born in Duxbury, Massachusetts and attended Harvard CollegeHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, graduating in 1762 and obtaining a Master's degree in 1765. He studied theology but never entered the active ministry. Instead, he became a school teacher in Kingston, Massachusetts
Kingston, Massachusetts
Kingston is a coastal town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. According to the 2010 Census, it had a population of 12,629.-History:Before European settlers arrived in Kingston it was within the tribal home to the Wampanoag people...
.
Political career
In 1774, Partridge was elected as a delegate to the Massachusetts Provincial CongressMassachusetts Provincial Congress
The Massachusetts Provincial Congress was a provisional government created in the Province of Massachusetts Bay early in the American Revolution....
, a provisional government formed to replace the Massachusetts General Court
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
which had been suspended by Royal Governor Gen. Thomas Gage
Thomas Gage
Thomas Gage was a British general, best known for his many years of service in North America, including his role as military commander in the early days of the American War of Independence....
. Of the first meeting of the Provincial Congress, Partridge wrote:
Gen. Gage said he had come over with his troops and proclamations to frighten us rebels into submission! We soon had his mandate, dissolving the General Court...So we met [in Salem]. And in a short time we began to ask one another, What can we do? The worst must come to the worst!...Shall we submit to Great Britain?...Or shall we resist her encroachments to the point of the sword?...The gulf is passed. We will have a Congress at ConcordConcord, MassachusettsConcord is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 17,668. Although a small town, Concord is noted for its leading roles in American history and literature.-History:...
. We will send letters to all the colonies and urge them to send delegates to meet at Philadelphia...We will go to our homes and wake everyone that sleeps!
Partridge then served with the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
from 1775 to 1779. In 1779 the legislature named him a delegate to the Continental Congress. He was reappointed continuously until 1785, although he missed the session held in Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
in 1783.
When the new government of the United States was installed Partridge was elected to the First United States Congress as a representative of . He served from March 4, 1789 until he resigned on August 14, 1790.
Partridge died at home in Duxbury in 1828 and is buried in the Mayflower Cemetery there.