Fitzsimons (FitzSimons; Fitzsimmons) was born in
Ireland in 1741. Coming to America about 1760, he pursued a
mercantile career in Philadelphia. The next year, he married
Catherine Meade, the daughter of a prominent local merchant, Robert
Meade, and not long afterward went into business with one of his
brothers-in-law. The firm of George Meade and Company soon became
one of the leading commercial houses in the city and specialized in
the West India trade.
When the Revolution erupted, Fitzsimons enthusiastically endorsed
the Whig position. During the war, he commanded a company of militia
(1776-77). He also sat on the Philadelphia committee of
correspondence, council of safety, and navy board. His firm provided
supplies and "fire" ships to the military forces and, toward the end
of the war, donated �: 5,000 to the Continental Army.
In 1782-83 Fitzsimons entered politics as a delegate to the
Continental Congress. In the latter year, he became a member of the
Pennsylvania council of censors and served as a legislator
(1786-89). His attendance at the Constitutional Convention was
regular, but he did not make any outstanding contributions to the
proceedings. He was, however, a strong nationalist.
After the convention, Fitzsimons continued to demonstrate his
nationalistic proclivities as a three-term U.S. representative
(1789-95). He allied himself closely with the program of Hamilton
and the emerging Federalist Party. Once again demonstrating his
commercial orientation, he advocated a protective tariff and
retirement of the national debt.
Fitzsimons spent most of the remainder of his life in private
business, though he retained an interest in public affairs. His
views remained essentially Federalist. During the maritime
difficulties in the late 1790s, he urged retaliation against British
and French interference with American shipping. In the first decade
of the 19th century, he vigorously opposed Jefferson's embargo of
1807-9. In 1810, again clashing with the Jeffersonians, he
championed the recharter of the First United States Bank.
But Fitzsimons's prominence stemmed from his business leadership. In
1781 he had been one of the founders of the Bank of North America.
He also helped organize and held a directorship in the Insurance
Company of North America and several times acted as president of the
Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. His financial affairs, like those
somewhat earlier of his associate and fellow-signer Robert Morris,
took a disastrous turn in 1805. He later regained some of his
affluence, but his reputation suffered.
Despite these troubles, Fitzsimons never ceased his philanthropy. He
was an outstanding supporter of Philadelphia's St. Augustine's Roman
Catholic Church. He also strived to improve public education in the
commonwealth and served as trustee of the University of
Pennsylvania.
Fitzsimons died at Philadelphia in 1811 after seven decades of life.
His tomb is there in the graveyard at St. Mary's Roman Catholic
Church, which is in present Independence National Historical Park. |
