Jonathan WILLIAMS, Congress, PA (1750-1815)

WILLIAMS, Jonathan, a Representative from Pennsylvania; born in Boston, Mass., May 20, 1750; completed preparatory studies and worked in a bank in Boston; went to France as secretary to Benjamin Franklin in 1770 and served until 1775, part of this time as commercial agent for the United States; studied military science; returned to the United States in 1785 and settled in Philadelphia; was judge of the court of common pleas; entered the United States Army as major of the Second Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers February 16, 1801; commanded the post at West Point, N.Y., and was the first Superintendent of the United States Military Academy in 1802; promoted through the ranks to colonel; planned and built the inner forts for the defense of New York Harbor; resigned July 31, 1812; returned to Philadelphia, Pa., and engaged in literary and scientific pursuits; was the author of several military and philosophical papers; elected to the Fourteenth Congress and served from March 4, 1815, until his death, before the assembling of the Congress, in Philadelphia, Pa., May 16, 1815.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present