Establishing a merchant house in Charlestown at age 21, Nathaniel Gorham successfully integrated early American commercial ventures with high-level political administration. His career spanned the transition from colonial trade to the foundational years of the United States, positioning him as a central figure in both the structural organization of the new government and large-scale speculative land development.
Early Merchant Career and Political Involvement
Born in 1738, Gorham began his professional training as an apprentice to a merchant in New London, Connecticut, when he was 15 years old. By 1759, he had returned to his native Charlestown to operate his own merchant house. As the American Revolution approached, he transitioned into public service, representing Massachusetts in the General Court between 1771 and 1775. He subsequently served on the Board of War from 1778 until 1781.
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Gorham held significant roles in the national government during the 1780s. He was a delegate to the Congress of the Confederation, serving as its president for five months in 1786 following the resignation of John Hancock. In 1787, he served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. During the convention's early proceedings, he frequently chaired the Committee of the Whole, presiding over the initial deliberations concerning the federal government's structure.
The Phelps and Gorham Land Purchase
In 1788, Gorham partnered with Oliver Phelps to acquire pre-emption rights to a massive tract of land in western New York, encompassing territory east and west of the Genesee River. The partners committed $1,000,000 for these rights, which had been ceded to Massachusetts under the 1786 Treaty of Hartford. They surveyed the area, established townships, and sold portions to settlers. However, the venture faltered; after defaulting on payments in 1790, Gorham and Phelps surrendered their interest in the remaining western lands to Massachusetts.
Fast facts
- Born: 1738, Charlestown
- Died: 1796, Charlestown
- Profession: Merchant, politician
- Presidency: President of the Continental Congress, 1786
- Constitutional role: Delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention
- Religion: Congregational churches
- Burial site: Boston
Questions readers ask
What major land deal did Gorham participate in?
He purchased pre-emption rights to a large tract of land in western New York from Massachusetts for $1,000,000 in 1788.
Did he play a role in the creation of the U.S. Constitution?
Yes, he was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, served on the Committee of Detail, and signed the document.
