This Day In Founders History – 10 October

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This Day In Founders History – 10 October

On this day in 1788, the Continental Congress formed a quorum, or minimum number of delegates necessary to conduct business, for the last time. Delegates trickled in each day, but never in numbers to form a quorum and conduct any official business. The last day the Continental Congress met was on March 2, 1789, with only Philip Pell of New York in attendance.

One notable birthday on this day in history in 1738, that of Benjamin West, an American painter. West was born in Pennsylvania, and, as a child, Native Americans showed him how to make paint by mixing river clay and bear grease. West had little education but became a renowned painter. Dr. William Smith saw one of West’s painting and offered him both education and connections with the wealthy and politically connected of Pennsylvania. West was a close friend of Benjamin Franklin and Franklin was the godfather to his second son. In 1763, West moved to England and was commissioned by King George III to paint portraits of the royal family. West was the second president of the Royal Academy of the Arts and many American artists studied under West, including Samuel Morse, Gilbert Stuart and John Trumbull. West lived the rest of his life in London.

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