Continental Congressman. He was raised in North Carolina, graduated from Princeton in 1768, and served there as a tutor and professor until 1783. During the Revolution he served as a Captain in the Somerset (N.J.) Militia's Second Regiment. In 1775 and 1776 he was Deputy Secretary of the Continental Congress, and in 1776 he served in New Jersey's Provincial Congress. He was a member of the New Jersey Assembly from 1777 to 1779 and served on the state Council of Safety in 1778. From 1779 to 1781 Houston was a member of the Continental Congress. He was admitted to the bar in 1781 and established a practice in Trenton. From 1782 to 1785 Houston was US Receiver of Taxes for New Jersey, and from 1781 to 1788 he was Clerk of the New Jersey Supreme Court. Houston served in the Continental Congress again from 1784 to 1785. He was a Delegate to the 1786 Philadelphia convention that recommended replacing the Articles of Confederation, and in 1787 he was named a Delegate to the Constitutional Convention. Houston withdrew from the convention and returned to Trenton when his health began to fail from the effects of tuberculosis. He later decided to travel to North Carolina in the hopes that a warmer climate would restore his health, but he died at an inn while he was en route.
Continental Congressman. He was raised in North Carolina, graduated from Princeton in 1768, and served there as a tutor and professor until 1783. During the Revolution he served as a Captain in the Somerset (N.J.) Militia's Second Regiment. In 1775 and 1776 he was Deputy Secretary of the Continental Congress, and in 1776 he served in New Jersey's Provincial Congress. He was a member of the New Jersey Assembly from 1777 to 1779 and served on the state Council of Safety in 1778. From 1779 to 1781 Houston was a member of the Continental Congress. He was admitted to the bar in 1781 and established a practice in Trenton. From 1782 to 1785 Houston was US Receiver of Taxes for New Jersey, and from 1781 to 1788 he was Clerk of the New Jersey Supreme Court. Houston served in the Continental Congress again from 1784 to 1785. He was a Delegate to the 1786 Philadelphia convention that recommended replacing the Articles of Confederation, and in 1787 he was named a Delegate to the Constitutional Convention. Houston withdrew from the convention and returned to Trenton when his health began to fail from the effects of tuberculosis. He later decided to travel to North Carolina in the hopes that a warmer climate would restore his health, but he died at an inn while he was en route.
Bio by: Bill McKern
Inscription
[Seal of Pennsylvania]
VIRTUE LIBERTY AND INDEPENDENCE
WILLIAM C. HOUSTON
A FRAMER OF THE CONSTITUTION OF
UNITED STATES IS BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY
COMMISSIONER FROM NEW JERSEY TO
FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
MAY 25, 1787 -- SEPTEMBER 17, 1787
ERECTED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA
CONSTITUTION COMMEMORATION
COMMITTEE 1937
Family Members
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