This Day In Founding Fathers History – 9 January

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This Day In Founding Fathers History – 9 January 2013

On this day in 1788, Connecticut became the fifth state to join the Union upon ratification of the Constitution. Connecticut’s role was vital during the Federal Convention. Delegate Roger Sherman lobbied for the Connecticut Compromise, also called the Great Compromise. This combined both the Virginia and New Jersey plans for state representation in Congress, a vital compromise allowing for the ratification of the Constitution. Upon their return, the delegates made their case to the state convention and ratification, and thereby statehood, was achieved. ₁

One notable birthday on this day in history in 1781, that of Lemuel Shaw. Shaw studied law and opened a practiced in Boston, going on to serve as representative to the Massachusetts General Court, director of the New England Bank, a member of the 1820 Massachusetts Constitutional Convention, senator in the state legislature, and later Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court where he served 30 years on the bench. He was very involved in local Boston politics and was the father-in-law of author Herman Melville. ₂

_{1 “Connecticut’s Ratification” and “Constitutional Topic: The Constitutional Convention,” www.usconstitution.net
2 “Lemuel Shaw Papers,” Massachusetts Historical Society, www.masshist.org}