Gilman, Nicholas, senator,
born in Exeter, New Hampshire. 3 August, 1755; died in Philadelphia, PA, 2 May, 1814, early
acquired scholarly tastes and methodical habits, which were still more strongly
emphasized under the careful instruction of his father. At the age of twenty-one
Mr. Gilman entered the army, as adjutant in Colonel Scammell's regiment, and
served with distinction until the close of the war. For some time he was a
member of Washington's military family, and upon him was devolved the duty of
taking account of the prisoners surrendered by Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. In
1780 General Arnold urged Mr. Gilman to accept an appointment on his staff. Mr.
Gilman's reply was characteristic. Fearing that Arnold would not be engaged in
active movements, he said:
'If I should come into your family and be confined in
the dreary wilderness of the highlands, while our operations are going on
against the City, which possibly may be the case, my situation would be as
distressing as that of Fabius M. when he had recourse to the flaming cattle."
He was a member of the Continental congress from 1786 till
1788, and after the adoption of the constitution a representative of New
Hampshire from 1789 till 1797. In 1805 he became a member of the United States
senate, which office he held till the close of his life. He was one of the
presidential electors in 1793 and 1797, and he was also one of the state
councilors. In September, 1787, Mr. Gilman was a member of the convention that
met at Philadelphia to frame a constitution for the United States. On 18
September the secretary of the convention took the report of the proceedings to
congress, and on the same day Mr. Gilman sent a copy of the new constitution to
his cousin, Joseph Gilman, who during the war had been chairman of the committee
of safety, with the following significant comment:
[The plan] " is the best that could meet the
unanimous concurrence of the states in convention. It was done by bargain and
compromise, yet--notwithstanding its imperfections--on the adoption of it
depends, in my feeble judgment, whether we shall become a respectable nation
or a people torn to pieces by intestine commotions and rendered contemptible
for ages."
Mr. Gilman was a man of deeds rather than words, and was
personally very popular. He was of graceful figure and elegant carriage; his
manners were courtly and his charities Were bestowed with liberality and
kindliness. These traits, united with his methodical habits and fidelity in the
performance of duty, kept him long in public life.
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