Timber Farms

Delaware's George Read

Delaware's Third Governor & Colonial Leader 

September 18, 1733 - September 21, 1798 

 By: Vanessa Spence

     George Read, the son of John and Mary Howell Read, was born in North East, MD on September 18, 1733. His father was a landholder of means and his mother was the daughter of a Welsh planter. The family moved to New Castle, DE when George was young. He later attended school in Chester, PA, as well as the Rev. Francis Alison's Academy at New London, PA. At the age of 15, he started reading with a Philadelphia lawyer. 

     In 1753, Read was admitted to the bar, and he began his own practice in Philadelphia. The following year, he journeyed back to New Castle and started a practice in his home town. In 1763, he married Gertrude Ross Till, the widowed sister of George Ross, like Read a future signer of the Declaration of Independence. They had three sons and a daughter. 

     While serving as the Crown Attorney General from 1763-74, he protested actively against the Stamp Act. In 1765, he began a career in the colonial legislature, which lasted more than a decade. 

     Read voted against independence on July 2, 1776. He was the only signer of the Declaration to do so, apparently either bowing to the strong Tory sentiment in Delaware, or believing reconciliation with Britain was still possible. It was his opposition to independence that caused Thomas McKean to call Caesar Rodney back to Philadephia to insure Delaware went on record for independence from England. 

     Read became the speaker of the Delaware Legislative Council in the same year, which in effect made him the Vice President (Lt. Governor) of the State. During the fall of 1777, the British took over Wilmington, DE and captured Delaware's President, John McKinly. Since George Read was away in Philadelphia attending meetings of the Congress, Thomas McKean, speaker of the lower house of Delaware, took over as acting President (Governor). This lasted only for a month until George Read returned from Philadelphia and took over the seat. He remained in the office until March 31, 1778, at which time  Caesar Rodney was voted in as the 4th Delaware President.