Baldwin, Abraham, 1754-1807

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Abraham Baldwin (November 22, 1754 – March 4, 1807) was an American minister, Patriot, politician, and Founding Father who signed the United States Constitution. Born and raised in Connecticut, he was a 1772 graduate of Yale College. After the Revolutionary War, Baldwin became a lawyer. He moved to the U.S. state of Georgia in the mid-1780s and founded the University of Georgia. Baldwin was a member of Society of the Cincinnati.

Born in Guilford in the Connecticut Colony, Baldwin attended Guilford Grammar School and Yale College. After studying theology, he was licensed as a Congregationalist minister and served as a tutor at Yale. During the American Revolutionary War, he served as a chaplain in the Connecticut Contingent of the Continental Army. At the conclusion of the war, Baldwin declined an offer from Yale's new president, Ezra Stiles, to become Professor of Divinity. Instead, he turned to the study of law and in 1783 was admitted to the Connecticut bar, practicing at Fairfield. In 1784, Baldwin moved to Augusta, Georgia to help develop a state education plan. Baldwin was named the first president of the University of Georgia and became active in politics to build support for the university. He was appointed as a delegate to the Congress of the Confederation and then to the Constitutional Convention; in September 1787 he was one of the state’s two signatories to the U.S. Constitution.

Baldwin remained president of the University of Georgia during its initial development phase until 1800. During this period, he also worked with the legislature on the college charter. In 1801, Franklin College, the University of Georgia's initial college, opened to students. He was elected as representative to the U.S. Congress in 1788. The Georgia legislature elected him as U.S. Senator in 1799 and served as President pro tempore of the United States Senate from December 1801 to December 1802. He was re-elected in 1804 and served in office until his death. Baldwin died in Washington, D.C.; his remains are interred at Rock Creek Cemetery there.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Prince, Oliver Hillhouse, 1782-1837. Oliver Hillhouse Prince papers, 1785-1900. Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Augusta (Ga.). Trustees of the City of Augusta. Land indenture, 1786 May 11. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Mansfield, Jared, 1759-1830. Papers. United States Military Academy, USMA Library
referencedIn Milledge, John, 1757-1818. John Milledge letter, 1793. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Telfair, Edward, ca. 1735-1807. Papers, 1762-1831; (bulk 1771-1807). Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Milledge family. Papers, 1755-1853. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Bond appointing commissioners to layout the city of Augusta (Ga.), 1786 May 3. Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Worthington, Thomas, 1773-1827. Worthington family papers, 1801-[18--?]. Ohio History Connection, Ohio Historical Society
referencedIn United States Constitution Collection, 1773-1944, (bulk 1787-1919) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Abraham Baldwin letters, 1788, 1792 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Irwin, Jared, 1750-1818. Papers, 1783-1855. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Papers, 1775-1935. Houghton Library
creatorOf Baldwin, Abraham, 1754-1807. Abraham Baldwin correspondence, 1800. Library of Congress
referencedIn Baldwin Family Papers, 1779-1886, bulk 1803-1865 The Huntington Library
creatorOf Baldwin, Abraham, 1754-1807. Abraham Baldwin papers, circa 1770-1808.
referencedIn Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. [Letter to Abraham Baldwin] / Thomas Jefferson. 1801 manuscript. The University of Tulsa, McFarlin Library
creatorOf Baldwin, Abraham, 1754-1807. ANS, [24 February 1799], [Philadelphia]. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Baldwin, Abraham, 1754-1807. [Letter] 1806 Feb. 23, Washington [to] Dear Sir / Abr Baldwin. Smith College, Neilson Library
creatorOf Baldwin, Abraham, 1754-1807. Autograph letter signed : Philadelphia, to James Jackson, 1789 July 17. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn United States Constitution Draft annotated by Abraham Baldwin, 1787. Georgia Historical Society
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
creatorOf Baldwin, Abraham, 1754-1807. Autograph letter signed : New York, to an unidentified recipient, 1789 Sept. 28. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Baldwin, Abraham, 1754-1807. Autograph letter signed, 1793 Mar. 3. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Jackson, James, 1757-1806. Papers, 1775-1843. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith Adams, John, 1735-1826 person
associatedWith Augusta (Ga.). Trustees of the City of Augusta. corporateBody
memberOf Baldwin Family family
sibling of Baldwin, Henry, 1780-1844 person
correspondedWith Barlow, Joel, 1754-1812 person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
correspondedWith Few, William, 1748-1828 person
correspondedWith Findley, William, 1741 or 2-1821 person
correspondedWith Hull, William, 1753-1825 person
associatedWith Irwin, Jared, 1750-1818. person
associatedWith Jackson, James, 1757-1806. person
correspondedWith Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826 person
correspondedWith Mansfield, Jared, 1759-1830 person
associatedWith Milledge family. family
associatedWith Milledge, John, 1757-1818. person
correspondedWith Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829 person
associatedWith Prince, Oliver Hillhouse, 1782-1837. person
associatedWith Telfair, Edward, ca. 1735-1807. person
associatedWith United States. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Congress. House person
memberOf United States. Congress. Senate corporateBody
memberOf United States. Continental Congress corporateBody
leaderOf University of Georgia. corporateBody
associatedWith Worthington, Thomas, 1773-1827. person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Yale University. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Augusta GA US
Fairfield CT US
District of Columbia DC US
Guilford CT US
New Haven CT US
Subject
Accounts
Budget
Creek Indians
Debts, Public
Maritime law
Legislation
Literature
Natural law
Pendulum
Revolutionary literature, American
State universities and colleges
Tariff
Taxation
Yazoo Fraud, 1795
Occupation
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Educators
Lawyers
Ministers
University presidents
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Senators, U.S. Congress
Activity

Person

Birth 1754-11-22

Death 1807-03-04

Male

Britons,

Americans

English

Information

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