George Read, Jr.
| George Read, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born |
August 29, 1765 New Castle, Delaware |
| Died | September 3, 1836 (aged 71) |
| Residence | New Castle, Delaware |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Political party | Republican |
George Read, Jr. (August 29, 1765 – September 3, 1836) was an American lawyer who served as the first U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware. The son of one of the nation's founding fathers, Read made numerous attempts at higher political office but was ultimately unsuccessful each time. Despite this, his substantial wealth acquired through his family and law career allowed him to build one of the largest homes in Delaware, which is today maintained as a museum.
George Read, Jr. was born on August 29, 1765 in New Castle, Delaware, United States. His father was George Read, a prominent lawyer and politician who would go on to sign both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. His mother was Gertrude Ross Read, the daughter of Rev. George Ross (the first rector of the Immanuel Episcopal Church on the Green) and the sister of lawyer George Ross, another future signatory to the Declaration. At the time of Read's birth, his father was serving as both the Crown Attorney General for the Delaware Colony as well as a member of the Delaware Assembly. By the time the boy turned ten, his father was serving in the Continental Congress in Philadelphia.
Read was admitted to the bar in 1785 and opened a law office in New Castle. In 1786, he wed his cousin Mary Thompson, the daughter of General William Thompson.
In 1789, the same year his father began his service as a senator in the first session of the U.S. Senate, George Read, Jr. received an appointment from President George Washington as the first U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware thanks to his father's efforts. The job meant that Read would be responsible for prosecuting cases brought in federal court in the state of Delaware.
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