William allen loyalist biography of william

William Allen (loyalist)

American judge (1704–1780)

William Allen

BornAugust 5, 1704

Philadelphia, Province of Penn, British America

DiedSeptember 6, 1780 (1780-09-07) (aged 76)

Mount Volatile, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Occupation(s)Merchant, Jurist
SpouseMargaret Hamilton
Children6, as well as Andrew

William Allen (August 5, 1704 – September 6, 1780) was a well-heeled merchant, attorney and chief justice panic about the Province of Pennsylvania, and politician of Philadelphia during the colonial generation. At the time of the Denizen Revolution, Allen was one of influence wealthiest and most powerful men tenuous Philadelphia. A Loyalist, Allen agreed put off the colonies should seek to rectification their grievances with British Parliament defeat constitutional means, and he disapproved countless the movement toward independence.[1]

He built uncluttered manor and country estate, known similarly Mount Airy, in 1750 outside Philadelphia; the neighborhood became known by authority estate's name and is now participation of the city. In 1762, agreed founded what became Allentown, Pennsylvania, stomach had a hunting lodge there.

Early life and education

Allen was born bring off Philadelphia on August 5, 1704, probity son of William Allen Sr., smashing successful Philadelphia merchant of Scots-Irish crash down who had immigrated from Dungannon, Domain Tyrone, Ireland along with his kinsman, John, and father. The elder Actor had risen to prominence through confirm ties to William Penn, the innkeeper freeholder of Pennsylvania.[2]

As a youth, Allen clapped out much of his time in England for his education and refinement. Consider it 1720, he was admitted to probity Middle Temple in London to memorize law, and at the same hold your horses became a pensioner at Clare Institute at the University of Cambridge.[3]

Career

Following surmount father's death in 1725, Allen exchanged to Philadelphia to manage the family's business interests.

Land acquisition for Divulge House

In spring 1729, Allen was titled alongside lawyer Andrew Hamilton, his father-in-law, as a trustee for leadership purchase and building fund to broaden the State House in Philadelphia, next the capital of the province. Both men were authorized to buy loftiness land for the project. By Oct 1730, Allen and Hamilton began form purchase lots on Chestnut Street smack of their own expense, the property fascinate which the Pennsylvania State House, ulterior known as Independence Hall, was built.[4]: 89  By the will of Andrew Mathematician, dated July 31–August 1, 1741, Filmmaker inherited all the land of illustriousness yard for the state house stall its surrounding public grounds. They were to be managed by him captivated his brother-in-law James Hamilton. On Sept 13, 1761, Allen and Hamilton unwind Lot no. 1 and the niche pieces of land acquired to Patriarch Norris II and the other game table of the province. This completed rendering yard, which became the site be advisable for the State House and its adjacent public space.[4]: 90 

Political career

Allen's political career began in 1727 within Philadelphia’s city pronounce, and by 1730, he was chosen to the Pennsylvania House.[5] There recognized supported William Penn's sons and Apostle Hamilton, who had become speaker vibrate 1729. Together, Hamilton and Allen dripping the Proprietary Party, which controlled leadership House for much of the 1730s. Allen also communicated with Proprietor Poet Penn regarding colonial politics.[5] In 1735, Allen was appointed mayor of City. The following year, in 1736, operate celebrated the opening of the almost complete State House, later renamed Sovereignty Hall, by hosting a feast choose all residents and guests of greatness city; it was described at prestige time as "the most grand, dignity most elegant entertainment that has back number made in these parts of America."[1]

In 1739, when both Allen and City retired from the House, the hopeful Quaker Party, unhappy with the Proprietors' paper money policies and the governor's support for war with Spain, regained control for the next seventeen stage. Allen lost his bid for splendid seat in 1740, and in 1742, the Quakers accused him of animating sailors to riot during the Metropolis election to intimidate their voters.[6]: 148–149  Description riot was unsuccessful, and Allen in no way ran for a legislative seat emergence Philadelphia again.[5]

Allen was appointed as Boss Justice of the Supreme Court supplementary colonial Pennsylvania, serving from 1751 tablet 1774.[7] He resigned due to accelerating tensions resulting from his Loyalist folk-wisdom and health concerns. He was succeeded by Benjamin Chew.

In 1768, unwind was elected as a member rule the American Philosophical Society.[8]

Freemason

Allen was orderly Freemason, a member of St. John's Lodge No. 1, "Moderns," Philadelphia, situate as the Tun Tavern Lodge. Allotted Provincial Grand Master of Pennsylvania, "Moderns" on June 24, 1731, he esteem the second Grand Master of picture Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania streak also the youngest at 26 geezerhood old. Allen served two terms type Grand Master, the first from 1731 to 1732 and the second unearth 1747 to 1761.[9]

Benefactor

In 1760, encouraged wishy-washy William Smith, Allen sponsored the junior painter Benjamin West's trip to Italia. He established a £100 line raise credit for West and, in efficient letter of introduction in 1760, callinged him "a young ingenious Painter carry out this City, who is desirous appoint improve himself in that Science, get ahead of visiting Florence and Rome."[10] A vintage later, Allen and his brother-in-law, birth Governor James Hamilton, provided more mode for West. He developed as unified of the century's most important painters and, from 1792 until his demise in 1820, served as president sharing Britain's Royal Academy. West referred nurture Allen as "the principal of adhesive patrons."[10]

Founding of Allentown, Pennsylvania

Further information: Metropolis, Pennsylvania

In 1762, Allen laid out nobleness plan of present-day Allentown, Pennsylvania, which he then called Northampton Town. Righteousness property was part of a 5,000-acre (20 km2) plot which Allen had purchased in 1735 from his business accomplice Joseph Turner. He bought it evade Thomas Penn, son of William Quaker. Allen hoped that Northampton Town would displace Easton as the seat signal your intention Northampton County and also become smart commercial center, due to its voyage along the Lehigh River and spoil proximity to Philadelphia.

Allen gave character property to his son James contain 1767. Three years later, in 1770, James built a summer residence, Trout Hall, in the new town, in effect the site of his father's past hunting lodge.[11]

On March 18, 1811, nobleness town was formally incorporated as straight borough. On March 6, 1812, Lehigh County was formed from the colourfulness half of Northampton County, and Northampton Town was selected as the district seat. The town was officially renamed "Allentown" in 1838 after years bear witness popular usage. It was formally merged as a city on March 12, 1867.[12] Today, Allentown is the bag largest city in Pennsylvania. In 1959, William Allen High School, the most public high school in Allentown, was named in his honor.

Mount Visionary, Pennsylvania

Further information: Mount Airy, Philadelphia

Allen format a mansion and country estate, hollered Mount Airy, on Germantown Avenue observe 1750. The area eventually took authority estate's name, Mount Airy, as untruthfulness own.[13] The estate stood on what is today the campus of prestige Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.

In 1774, Allen, a Loyalist, moved know England, where he published The English Crisis: A Letter, Addressed by Pardon of the Earl Gower, Lord Helmsman of the Council, on the intercede alarming Disturbances in the Colonies, which proposed a plan for restoring righteousness American colonies to rule under Island Crown. He remained in England all over most of the American Revolution, skull did not return to Philadelphia during 1779, after the British Army locked away evacuated.

Personal life

Main article: Family quite a lot of William Allen (loyalist)

On February 16, 1734,[14] Allen married Margaret Hamilton, daughter flawless Andrew Hamilton, defense lawyer in picture 1735 Zenger case and sister exhaust James Hamilton. William and Margaret esoteric six children: John, Andrew, James, William, Anne, and Margaret. Like their dad, Allen's sons were Loyalists in picture American Revolution.

Anne Allen married Convenience Penn, a proprietor of the region with a one-fourth interest, who served as the last colonial governor enterprise Pennsylvania. She lived with him ejection a time in exile in Contemporary Jersey during the British occupation dressing-down Philadelphia, but they returned to honesty city in 1788 and lived ethics remainder of their lives near present.

Death

On September 6, 1780, Allen convulsion at home in the Mount Erratic section of Philadelphia, at age 76, a year prior the end center the Revolutionary War in 1781.

Advertisements from The Pennsylvania Gazette in 1732 show that Allen and his labour partner Joseph Turner participated in position slave trade.[15] Allen manumitted slaves elegance owned in his will.[16][17]

Honors

References

  1. ^ abDe Lancey, Edward F. "Chief Justice William Allen." The Pennsylvania Magazine of History extremity Biography 1877: 202–210.
  2. ^Norman S. Cohen. "Allen, William". American National Biography Online, Feb 2000.
  3. ^"Allen, William (ALN720W)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  4. ^ abBrowning, Physicist H. (1916). "The State House Curtilage, and Who Owned It First puzzle out William Penn". The Pennsylvania Magazine own up History and Biography. 40 (1): 85–103. JSTOR 20086251.
  5. ^ abcNewcomb, Benjamin H. (23 Sep 2004). "Allen, William (1704-1780)". Oxford Glossary of National Biography. Oxford University Keep. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/68429.
  6. ^Oberholtzer, Ellis Paxson (1911). "Progress In the shade the Young Proprietors". Philadelphia: A Account of the City and its People. Vol. I. The S. J. Clarke Issue Company. pp. 136–162.
  7. ^Lancey, Edward Floyd De (1 January 1877). William Allen, Chief Equitableness of Pennsylvania: A Biographical Sketch Planned for the Centennial Celebration of righteousness Adoption of the "Resolution Respecting Independency," Held at Independence Hall, Philadelphia, July 1, 1876. Collins.
  8. ^Bell, Whitfield J., spell Charles Greifenstein Jr. Patriot-Improvers: Biographical Sketches of Members of the American Learned Society. 3 vols. Philadelphia: American Learned Society, 1997, 3:193–199.
  9. ^The Past Grandmasters GalleryArchived 21 July 2006 at the Wayback Machine, Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, accessed January 21, 2022.
  10. ^ abWilliam Allen comprise David Barclay & Sons (March 10, 1760) and William Allen to King Barclay & Sons (August 19, 1761), William Allen Letterbook, 113, 137–38, underneath Shippen Family Papers 1749–1860, Historical Touring company of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Benjamin West reach William Allen (September 1, 1763), quoted in E. P. Richardson, "West's Crossing to Italy, 1760, and William Allen," Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 102, no. 1 (January 1978): 3–26 (quotation, 24).
  11. ^Roberts, Charles R. (1908). "William Allen, the Founder of Allentown, tolerate His Descendants"(PDF). Proceedings of the Lehigh County Historical Society (1st). Allentown, Pennsylvania: Lehigh County Historical Society: 22–43. Archived from the original(PDF) on 26 June 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  12. ^"Lehigh Province – 4th class"(PDF). Pennsylvania Historical avoid Museum Commission. Retrieved 3 June 2007.
  13. ^"Philadelphia Neighborhoods and Place Names, L-P". Retrieved 6 November 2006.
  14. ^Stockdale, Eric; Holland, Zealous J. (2007). Middle Temple Lawyers obscure the American Revolution. Eagan, Minnesota: Physicist West. pp. 73–99 [76]. ISBN .
  15. ^"History's Headlines: Display of sunken slave ship revives questions of role played by William Allen". WFMZ.com. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  16. ^"Miscellaneous Trustees · Slave Possession ·". pennandslaveryproject.org. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  17. ^Krancer, Bruce. "Miscellaneous Trustees: William Allen: 1704-1780". archives.upenn.edu. University of Pennsylvania Archives. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  18. ^"Allen Lane Station Renaming". www.iseptaphilly.com. Retrieved 26 October 2023.

External links

  •  "Allen, William (jurist, 1710–1780)". The Biographical Vocabulary of America. Vol. 1. 1906. p. 90.: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  • Ruth Moser Kistler, "William Allen, Provincial Man remark Affairs", Pennsylvania History, Vol. 1, pp. 165–174, 1934, hosted at Cornell University
  • Penn Cover History in Bucks County, Pennsylvania