A Biography of John Dickinson (1732-1808)

FAIN: FZ-266874-19

Jane E. Calvert
University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY 40506-0001)

Research and writing leading to a biography of the American statesman John Dickinson (1732-1808), known as the "Penman of the Revolution"

This will be the first full biography of founder John Dickinson, America's first international political celebrity and leader of the resistance to Britain. He wrote more documents for the Founding of the nation than any other figure and held more public offices in two states. With his belief in Quaker principles, he was also unique among the leaders of the generation in his advocacy of human rights. He freed all of his significant number of slaves during his lifetime, worked for abolition, and advocated rights for women, Native Americans, prisoners, the poor, and other subordinated peoples. Because his papers have not been published, no complete and accurate biography has been written But now his papers are being published and the first three volumes (to 1769) are near completion. This new biography, readable for the public and useful for scholars, will be based on this new wealth of never-before-used sources.