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tosh to a duel, from whom he received a wound, which proved mortal, and expired on the 27th May, 1777, in the forty-fifth year of his age.

Although the political career of Mr. Gwinnett was short, and its termination afflicting, his memory, stamped as it is upon the charter of our independence, must be coeval with the duration of the American republic.

GATES, HORATIO, a major-general in the army of the United States, was born about the year 1728.

In early life he entered the British army, and laid the foundation of his future military excellence. He was with Braddock, and a companion in arms with Washington, at the defeat of his army, in 1755.

When peace was concluded, he purchased an estate in Virginia, where he resided until the commencement of the American war, in 1775, when he was appointed by congress, at the recommendation of general Washington, adjutant-general, with the rank of brigadier-general.

From this period he took a very active part in most of the transactions of the war, and his abilities and good fortune placed him in a rank inferior only to the commander-in-chief, and above any other general.

In July, 1775, he accompanied Washington to Cambridge, when he went to take command of the army in that place.

In June, 1776, he was appointed to the command of the army of Canada. He was superseded by general Schuyler in May, 1777; but in August following, he took the place of this officer in the northern department. The success, which attended his arms in the capture of Burgoyne, in October, filled America with joy. This event may be

considered as deciding the war of the revolution, as from that period, the British cause began rapidly to decline. Congress passed a vote of thanks, and ordered a medal of gold to be presented by the president. After general Lincoln was taken prisoner, he was appointed on the 13th of June, 1780, to the command of the southern department. On the 16th of August, he was defeated by Cornwallis, at Camden. He was superseded on the 3d of December by general Greene, but was, in 1782, restored to his command.

After the peace he retired to his farm, in Berkely county, Virginia, where he remained until the year 1790, when he went to reside at New-York, having first emancipated his slaves, and made such pecuniary provision for such as were not able to provide for themselves. On his arrival at NewYork, the freedom of the city was presented to him.

In 1800, he accepted a seat in the legislature, but he retained it no longer than he conceived his services might be useful to the cause of liberty, which he never abandoned. He died, April 10, 1806, in the seventy-eighth year of his age. He was a scholar, well versed in history and the Latin classics.

GORHAM, NATHANIEL, one of the signers of the federal constitution, was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, May 27, 1738. He received an excellent education, and possessing uncommon talents, he always appeared to advantage in company with literary men. He settled in business at the place of his nativity, but being a constant, fearless, and independent lover of freedom, seemed to be formed more for public life than to succeed in mercantile pursuits.

He was chosen representative for Charlestown, in 1771, and every year till the commencement of the revolutionary war. He was a very assiduous attendant on the house of representatives, and was a leader in all their debates.

In 1779, he was elected a delegate of the convention which formed the constitution of his native state.

In 1784, he was chosen a member of the congress of the United States, and soon after, elected president of that honourable body.

In 1787, he was a member of the grand convention which formed the federal constitution. In this august body, he sustained a high reputation for his knowledge and integrity. He stood high with all parties for his wisdom and prudence, and eloquence in debate.

He was on this account one of the most influential members of the state convention, which adopted it. He died, June 11, 1796.

GAGE, THOMAS, the last governor of Massachusetts appointed by the king, was the brother of Lord Viscount Gage. He came to America as lieutenant-colonel of Braddock's army, and when that unfortunate general was wounded, he, with another officer, carried him off the field.

In 1760, after the conquest of Canada by his majesty's forces, he was appointed governor.

In 1763, on the departure of general Amherst, he succeeded him as commander-in-chief of his majesty's forces in America.

In 1774, he was appointed to succeed Hutchinson in the government of Massachusetts, and to command the troops quartered in the province, to force the people into a compliance with the unconstitutional and oppressive acts of parliament. On

his arrival in Boston, he immediately sent several detachments into various parts of the country to repair the fortifications, seize the powder and other military stores in Charlestown, Salem, Concord, and Lexington: at the latter place was kindled the spark, which terminated in the independence of America.

In May, 1775, the provincial congress of Massachusetts declared general Gage, to be an inveterate enemy of the country, disqualified for serving the colony as governor, and unworthy of obedience. From this time the exercise of his functions were confined to Boston.

In June, 1775, he proclaimed Massachusetts to be in rebellion, and offered pardon to all the rebels, excepting Samuel Adams and John Hancock, whom he proscribed.

Under his orders Bunker-hill battle was fought, and Charlestown burnt. Having obtained leave to depart from America, he embarked for England, October following, and was succeeded in the command by Sir William Howe. He died in England, April 4, 1787.

HENRY, PATRICK, a distinguished patriot and statesman, was born at the seat of his ancestors, Hanover county, Virginia, May 29, 1736. After making some proficiency in mathematics and the languages, he was placed with a country merchant, and at the age of eighteen commenced business on his own account.

His genius, however, like Shakspeare's, moulded for a nobler and more exalted sphere of action, and destined to guide the councils of a great republic, abandoned the drudgery of the counter, and at the age of four-and-twenty, commenced the study of the law.

In a very short time, he was qualified, and commenced the practice of his profession. It was not, however, till the year 1763, that his genius burst her fetters and brought into action for the first time, the powers of his eloquence, for which he afterwards became celebrated.

In 1764, a year memorable for the origination of that great question, which led finally to the independence of the United States, it is asserted, on the authority of president Jefferson, that "he gave the first impulse to the ball of the revolution."

In the following year, 1765, he introduced his celebrated resolutions against the scheme of taxing America, which passed the house of burgesses in May following.

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They formed," says Mr. Henry, "the first opposition to the stamp act, and the scheme of taxing America by the British parliament. All the colonies, either through fear, or want of opportunity to form an opposition, or from influence of some kind or other, had remained silent. I had been for the first time elected a burgess, a few days before,

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