David Brearley

David Brearley was born on June, 11 1745 in Spring Grove, New Jersey. The same state that he represented. In 1776 he took place in the convention that drew up the State Constitution ,and in 1779 he was elected as Chief Justice of New Jersey Supreme Court, where he held the position for ten years until 1789. He was 42 years old when he participated in the Constitutional Convention. Like William Paterson he opposed proportional representation of states in congress. He thought that only a constitutionally based government could guarantee that the nations military forces would remain properly ordered to their elected civilian leaders. Brearley looked for a stronger government that would protect the rights of all states under a rule of law. President Washington appointed him as a federal district judge and he served until his death. Brearley died in Trenton at the age of forty five in 1790 and was buried at St. Michael's Episcopal Church.

David Brearley has enough historical recognition. He really did not play a major role in the revolution. He may have been Chief Justice but this does not really make him stand out. Brearley did little to earn the recognition he has and if he was given more what would it be for. He was not a hero ,nor was he ever president or any such thing. The most he did was look for a stronger government and serve as a judge.