Abraham Baldwin, signer of the United States Constitution and founder of the University of Georgia, devoted his life to public service. On his deathbed, at the age of fifty-two, he boasted to friends that the few days of his last illness accounted for his absence from official duties in his twenty-two years of membership in Congress.
The outstanding nature of Baldwin's character was well-described by his brother-in-law Joel Barlow, the poet and diplomat, who said of him:
"The annals of our country have rarely been adorned with a character more venerable, or a life more useful than that of Abraham Baldwin. War brings its animation, and creates its own heroes; it often rears them up to fame with as little assistance from native genius as from study, or from moral and political virtue. It is in times of peace that an illustrious name is hardest earned, and most difficult to be secured, especially among enlightened republicans, where an equality of right and rank leaves nothing to the caprice of chance; where every action is weighed in its proper balance, and every man compared not only with his neighbor, but with himself; his motives being tested by the uniform tendency of his measures."
Baldwin was born in North Guilford, Conn., on November 22, 1754. An exceptionally bright boy, he entered Yale College in New Haven at the age of thirteen. He was a good student, particularly in the classics and in mathematics. Graduating in 1772 at the age of seventeen, he decided to remain on at Yale, studying law and acting as a tutor for other students.
Late in the Revolutionary War, he and Joel Barlow, a college chum, became chaplains for Connecticut troops. In 1781, Barlow married Baldwin's sister Ruth. Baldwin himself never married, but he liked young people and helped finance the education of his own sisters and half-brothers.
When independence had been won, Baldwin decided to go to Georgia to seek his fortune. He arrived in Savannah, Ga., in 1784, and shortly afterward he was admitted to the bar. He charmed new acquaintances, winning so many friends that he was elected to the state legislature only three months after his arrival.
The outstanding nature of Baldwin's character was well-described by his brother-in-law Joel Barlow, the poet and diplomat, who said of him:
"The annals of our country have rarely been adorned with a character more venerable, or a life more useful than that of Abraham Baldwin. War brings its animation, and creates its own heroes; it often rears them up to fame with as little assistance from native genius as from study, or from moral and political virtue. It is in times of peace that an illustrious name is hardest earned, and most difficult to be secured, especially among enlightened republicans, where an equality of right and rank leaves nothing to the caprice of chance; where every action is weighed in its proper balance, and every man compared not only with his neighbor, but with himself; his motives being tested by the uniform tendency of his measures."
Entered Yale at thirteen
Baldwin was born in North Guilford, Conn., on November 22, 1754. An exceptionally bright boy, he entered Yale College in New Haven at the age of thirteen. He was a good student, particularly in the classics and in mathematics. Graduating in 1772 at the age of seventeen, he decided to remain on at Yale, studying law and acting as a tutor for other students.
Late in the Revolutionary War, he and Joel Barlow, a college chum, became chaplains for Connecticut troops. In 1781, Barlow married Baldwin's sister Ruth. Baldwin himself never married, but he liked young people and helped finance the education of his own sisters and half-brothers.
When independence had been won, Baldwin decided to go to Georgia to seek his fortune. He arrived in Savannah, Ga., in 1784, and shortly afterward he was admitted to the bar. He charmed new acquaintances, winning so many friends that he was elected to the state legislature only three months after his arrival.
Started the University of Georgia
During the year he spent as a state legislator, Baldwin performed a lasting service for his adopted state by originating the plan for a University of Georgia and drawing up its charter. The legislature approved the charter on January 27, 1785, making the University of Georgia the first such institution of higher education chartered by a state. Baldwin's charter endowed the university with 40,000 acres of land, the rents from which paid for buildings and salaries for the faculty.
His success as a state legislator won Baldwin increased popularity, and, in his second year in residence in Georgia, he was elected to represent the state in the Congress of the Confederation. Henceforward, for the rest of his life, Baldwin represented Georgia in Congress.
In 1786, Baldwin was appointed as a delegate from Georgia to the Annapolis Convention- the preliminary meeting of a few states to decide what might be done to strengthen the national government under the Articles of the Confederation. Baldwin joined James Madison and Alexander Hamilton in supporting the need for a national constitutional convention.
His success as a state legislator won Baldwin increased popularity, and, in his second year in residence in Georgia, he was elected to represent the state in the Congress of the Confederation. Henceforward, for the rest of his life, Baldwin represented Georgia in Congress.
In 1786, Baldwin was appointed as a delegate from Georgia to the Annapolis Convention- the preliminary meeting of a few states to decide what might be done to strengthen the national government under the Articles of the Confederation. Baldwin joined James Madison and Alexander Hamilton in supporting the need for a national constitutional convention.
Tolerant of the opinions of others
At the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787, Baldwin was one of the representatives from Georgia. He distinguished himself with his simple, forcible oratory, and his tolerant examination of even the wildest opinions of some of the other delegates. To the end of his life, he regarded his services at this convention and his signing of the United States Constitution as the crowning achievements of his career.
In the national elections of 1788, he was elected to the House of Representatives, an office he held through 1799, serving throughout the critical period that the new United States government was being formed under President George Washington. With James Madison, he was a member of the congressional committee that drew up the Bill of Rights amendments, guaranteeing the rights of the states and individuals under the Constitution. He served on many other important committees, including that which prepared legislation establishing the executive departments of Foreign Affairs, War, and Treasury.
Baldwin believed in strict interpretation of the Constitution within the terms of the words written in it. He discounted attempts to enlarge or narrow its provisions by any theory not specifically stated in the Constitution. He refused to support any measures that intruded on the reserved powers and rights of the states or of the people. Pointing out that "every particle of law-making power in the Constitution granted, was vested in Congress," he was particularly watchful to prevent the executive branch of the government from taking on legislative powers.
In 1798, Baldwin was elected as a United States Senator from Georgia, taking his seat in the upper house in 1799. He was re-elected as a senator in 1804, but did not live to complete his second term. After an illness of only eight days, Baldwin died on March 4, 1807.
In the national elections of 1788, he was elected to the House of Representatives, an office he held through 1799, serving throughout the critical period that the new United States government was being formed under President George Washington. With James Madison, he was a member of the congressional committee that drew up the Bill of Rights amendments, guaranteeing the rights of the states and individuals under the Constitution. He served on many other important committees, including that which prepared legislation establishing the executive departments of Foreign Affairs, War, and Treasury.
Baldwin believed in strict interpretation of the Constitution within the terms of the words written in it. He discounted attempts to enlarge or narrow its provisions by any theory not specifically stated in the Constitution. He refused to support any measures that intruded on the reserved powers and rights of the states or of the people. Pointing out that "every particle of law-making power in the Constitution granted, was vested in Congress," he was particularly watchful to prevent the executive branch of the government from taking on legislative powers.
In 1798, Baldwin was elected as a United States Senator from Georgia, taking his seat in the upper house in 1799. He was re-elected as a senator in 1804, but did not live to complete his second term. After an illness of only eight days, Baldwin died on March 4, 1807.
Some Political Views on the Constitution By Abraham Baldwin
He believed in a strict interpretation of the Constitution within the terms of the words written in it. He discouraged attempts to enlarge or narrow its provisions by any theory not specifically stated in the Constitution. He refused to support any measures that intruded on the reserved powers and rights of the states or of the people.
Reference: Whitney, David C.. 1965. Encyclopedia Editor and Historian."Founders of Freedom in America-Biographies of the Signers of the Constitution of the United States." Lives of The Men Who Signed The Constitution of the United States And So Helped To Established The United States of America. Published By J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company. Chicago, Illinois. Pgs. 35, 43-44.
