Eleazer McComb Waits Around in Congress
Eleazer McComb was a leader of Revolutionary Delaware whose time in the Continental Congress sheds an interesting light on the problems which would later lead to the Constitutional Convention.
Published 11/14/19 - Updated 11/29/21
Eleazer McComb
When the Revolutionary War began, Eleazer McComb was already serving on Delaware’s Committee of Correspondence.
With the coming of hostilities, he signed up for the militia and was appointed a Captain.
Within three years he left the battlefield as he had been selected for the Governor’s Council, which acted similar to what we now would think of as a Cabinet.
Waiting on Congress
In 1783, McComb was sent to represent Delaware at the Continental Congress.
By this point the war was over and all that was left to do was sign the Treaty of Paris.
Unfortunately, most Founders were preoccupied with their of State and the Continental Congress had great difficulties getting enough people in attendance to achieve a quorum.
Generally, the Delegates would show up in the morning, adjourn for the day, and go home.
Peace
Finally, on January 14, 1784, enough Delegates arrived to represent the necessary nine States needed for a quorum. They immediately voted to ratify the Treaty of Paris, ending the war.
Sick of all the waiting around, Eleazer McComb set off to return to Delaware just three days later.
Interestingly, this means he put the Continental Congress right back where it was...without a quorum.
The quorum issue was a main impetus for the Constitutional Convention just three years later (though it is important to note that McComb is far from the only person to be blamed for this problem).
The Bank of Delaware
Eleazer would go on to serve with several commissions that negotiated with Native Americans as well as interstate canals.
Furthermore, he was chosen as his State’s Auditor of Accounts before taking over as President of the Bank of Delaware.
Unfortunately, McComb would lose his life in 1798 when a wave of yellow fever overtook Wilmington and, with it, Eleazer.
Want to read about more DELAWARE FOUNDERS?
Check out these articles:
Jacob Broom Doesn’t Realize His Property’s Potential
Gunning Bedford, Jr - Standing Up For The Little States
Caesar Augustus Rodney Loses His Way To Attorney General
It’s difficult to figure out an appropriate book to recommend for this particular Founder.
Unfortunately, there is not book about the process of ratification of the Treaty of Paris. ‘The Reluctant Rebels’ is a fun book about the entire life of the Continental Congress.
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).
Want to get fun American Revolution articles straight to your inbox every morning?
Smart!
Subscribe to my email list here.
You can also support this site on Patreon by clicking here.
