Constitution Signer

JARED INGERSOLL

Jared Ingersoll was an early American lawyer and statesman from Philadelphia, a Continental Congressman, Delegate to the Constitutional Convention, Attorney-General of Pennsylvania and Federalist Candidate for the Vice-Presidency.

Ingersoll was born on 27 October 1749 in New Haven, Connecticut. The son of a prominent British official, Jared graduated from Yale University (1766), studied law in Philadelphia, and attained the bar in 1773.   Out of respect for his distinguished father, Ingersoll sought to avoid the brewing controversies at home and instead, traveled abroad, continuing his study of the law at the Middle Temple in London. Ingersoll remained abroad during the Revolutionary War but returned in 1781, having renounced his father’s beliefs and support for the British cause.

In 1781, a friend asked Ingersoll to look after his law practice and Jared became known as one of the best lawyers in Philadelphia.  He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 but despite his legal reputation, Ingersoll seldom participated in the convention debates.  His contributions were to come later, as he helped to legally define many of the principles the Convention established. 

After the Constitutional Convention, Ingersoll returned to privately practicing law.  His occasional political forays included Attorney General of Pennsylvania (1790-99 and 1811-17), Philadelphia’s City Solicitor (1798-1801), and US district attorney for Pennsylvania (1800-1801).  In 1812, he joined DeWitt Clinton on the Federalist Party ticket for the US presidential election, but was defeated by James Madison and Elbridge Gerry. Over the course of his distinguished legal career, he argued many high profile and important Supreme Court cases which ultimately served to define basic points of constitutional law. Ingersoll died on 31 October 1822 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.eath: 9 September 1806, New York. associate justice of the Supreme Courth (1793-1806)rsey.  ral court system. 

http://www.archives.upenn.edu/people/1700s/ingersoll_jared.html

http://www.history.army.mil/books/revwar/ss/ingersoll.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Ingersoll