Statesman, born Ireland, 1741; died Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1811. He was in America as early as 1758, and took a prominent part in the Revolutionary movement; his election as one of the Provincial Deputies in July, 1774, is the first instance of a Catholic being named for a public office in Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Continental Congress, assisted in drawing up the Constitution of 1787 of which he was one of the signers, and was elected a member of the first Congress of the United States. Probably he was the first to suggest a protective tariff to help American industries. He was one of the founders of Georgetown College.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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