ISI Books has inaugurated a superb new historical series. Each volume is a slim, elegant, crisply-written study of what we might call the Lesser Founders. These are the men who built America but who, obscured by the towering giants of that age, haven’t been properly given their due. In comparison with Washington or Hamilton, few men measure up. But these Lesser Founders were impressive men in their own right, independent of mind, bold of action, mostly self-made, morally and philosophically serious, and they lived in fascinating times.
So far there have been studies of Luther Martin, “forgotten Founder, drunken prophet” according to Mr. Bill Kauffman’s subtitle; of the “incautious man,” Gouverneur Morris; and of that ablest of Washington’s lieutenants, Nathanael Greene.
These books belong in the library of any student of Amerca.
Nanthanael Greene Is One Of The Most Intriguing Figures Of The Revolution
Swamp_Yankee Wednesday, May 6th at 12:11PM EDT (link)I’m not sure the war could have been won without Greene and I know that’s a strong statement.
I used to live near his historic home and lament the lack of good reading material on him. He gets little respect considering the size of the role he played and the obstacles he faced. He was a giant. Most able and loyal.
Nice post.
Not Dead Yet!
The Yankees wrote the history, so the
Achance Wednesday, May 6th at 12:18PM EDT (link)Revolution was won in British Occupied New England, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Somehow, the British just happened to chose Virginia as the place to surrender. The fighting and harrassing “retreat” through The South bought the time to both irreparably damage British morale and civic will and to get the French Navy in place.
Green had a plantation near Savannah, Georgia and hired a young Yale-educated tutor for the plantation school named Eli Whitney. Whitney watched the combing of cotton lint and from his observations developed the cotton gin, one of the two or three most influential inventions in American History.
In Vino Veritas
That's A Little Defensive
Swamp_Yankee Wednesday, May 6th at 12:37PM EDT (link)Of all the founders, I think Massachusetts own John Adams was the most unappreciated for centuries. David McCoullough’s book brought him into the forefront. Ironically, the two great conservative thinkers of that generation may have been Otis and Adams both from Mass.
Jefferson, a Virgninian like Washington, ways got his due. Our culture heralds the Virginians. I believe the bias is academic not regional. Southerners are identify with region more than Northerners, Northerners dont care as much. Academics love Jefferson, likethey love Franklin, because they were the two most prominent deists of the founders and were more aligned with the Jacobin egalitarian strain of era. I think the fact that Adams and Otis were left to the dustbins of history show that the bias is ideological and not regional.
Greene too was a Son of Rhode Island and Long Neglected.
Also, prior to the actual war, the sentiments and the politics that culminated in the revolutionary spirit flourished in New England. The Stamp Act, Boston Massacre, Tea Party, Sons of Liberty, … There was a reason that the British invaded Boston. They were the most troublesome. There is much scholarship on New England because New Engalnd was the catalyst for the whole thing.
Not Dead Yet!
thanks
Tanggor Wednesday, May 6th at 12:53PM EDT (link)Mr. Cella.
I don’t get out and about much, and often miss good stuff like this.
“It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon the supposition he may abuse it.” – George Washington
Few people know "da Bronx" helped write our Constitution
Marcus_Traianus Wednesday, May 6th at 1:26PM EDT (link)Gouverneur Morris, immortalized in my tagline, is largely credited with polishing the Constitution and writing the preamble of “We the people…”.
He was picked as a Constitutional delegate from Pennsylvania since the British were occupying his New York estate (his mother was also reported to be a Loyalist).
In my opinion, his exploits on behalf of the Continental Army have gone very unappreciated. Especially after Valley Forge, Morris became a constant advocate on behalf of the men and for more money and better training.
The consummate New Yorker, Morris attended Columbia at the age of 12 and is buried at St Ann’s.
Great catch, Paul.
“Both of our political parties, at least the honest portion of them, agree conscientiously in the same object—the public good; but they differ essentially in what they deem the means of promoting that good. One side believes it best done by one composition of the governing powers; the other, by a different one. One fears most the ignorance of the people; the other, the selfishness of rulers independent of them. Which is right, time and experience will prove.”.Thomas Jefferson
Contributor to The Minority Report
Brookheiser's book
Warner Todd Huston Wednesday, May 6th at 10:16PM EDT (link)Richard Brookheiser did a great little book on Morris. You should look it up.
He subtitled it “the rake who helped write the Constitution.”
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Thanks WT
Marcus_Traianus Thursday, May 7th at 8:17AM EDT (link)That is one I have not read. I have only read Brookhiser’s book on Hamilton, which was excellent.
Just got the Morris book on Amazon.
“Both of our political parties, at least the honest portion of them, agree conscientiously in the same object—the public good; but they differ essentially in what they deem the means of promoting that good. One side believes it best done by one composition of the governing powers; the other, by a different one. One fears most the ignorance of the people; the other, the selfishness of rulers independent of them. Which is right, time and experience will prove.”.Thomas Jefferson
Contributor to The Minority Report