Federalist Signer, Republican Senator - Nicholas Gilman
Nicholas Gilman was a Signer of the Constitution and an inaugural member of the House of Representatives.
Nicholas Gilman
Nicholas Gilman was born into a wealthy New Hampshire merchant family who was hit especially hard by Parliament’s taxation policies in the years before the Revolutionary War.
Nicholas followed his father and older brother (future Governor John Taylor Gilman) into the Patriot ranks and joined the State Militia.
He was commissioned as the Adjutant for Alexander Scammell’s 3rd New Hampshire Regiment and continued in that position when they were absorbed into the Continental Army.
Deputy Adjutant General
Gilman saw action on several occasions, most notably during the Victory at Saratoga.
Immediately following this engagement, his unit moved to join General Washington’s main army at Valley Forge.
Shortly thereafter, Scammell was promoted to Adjutant General of the Continental Army and, with him, Nicholas was made Deputy Adjutant General.
He assisted in the administration of the Army through the Battle of Yorktown, leaving the service two years later in 1783.
Constitutional Convention
Gilman returned to New Hampshire to continue in the family business for several years, but by 1786 was chosen to represent his State in the Continental Congress. Additionally, he was asked to attend the Annapolis Convention that same year but was unable to arrive in time for the discussions.
The following year, however, Nicholas was sent to attend the Philadelphia Convention…or as we know it today, the Constitutional Convention.
Gilman was a strong supporter of a nationalized Government and just a month after his 32nd birthday he signed the US Constitution.
Switching Parties
Although he remained with the Continental Congress in New York during his State’s ratification debates, once the new government took effect Nicholas was elected as an inaugural member of the House of Representatives.
Through his eight year stay, Gilman underwent a radical transformation.
Nominally a Federalist upon his arrival, he became ever more aware of the need to protect the common man from too powerful a national government. After a brief hiatus away from politics, he switched parties and ran as a Democratic-Republican for the Senate.
Senator
Nicholas lost his first attempt at a Senate run, receiving an appointment from President Jefferson to serve as a Bankruptcy Commissioner.
Trying again in 1804 he won a seat despite New Hampshire being heavily Federalist..
Gilman spent the next decade in that office, dying suddenly in 1814 while traveling home on recess.
Want to read about other Constitution Signers?
Check out these articles:
Nathaniel Gorham and the Committee of the Whole
Jacob Broom Doesn’t Realize His Property’s Potential
There’s a Surgeon In The Cabinet - A James McHenry Story
Nicholas Gilman somehow does not have a biography of his own.
He does play a notable role in ‘Plain, Honest Men’ which is my favorite book about the Constitutional Convention.
If you’d like a copy you can get one through the Amazon affiliate link below (you’ll support this site, but don’t worry, Amazon pays me while your price stays the same).
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