Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer
Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer painted by John Hesselius, c. 1760–70
First President of the Maryland State Senate
In office 1777–1780
Succeeded by	Matthew Tilghman
Personal details
Born	1723 (1723) Port Tobacco, Maryland
Died	November 16, 1790(1790-11-16) (aged 66–67) Annapolis, Maryland
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Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer (born 1723, died 1790) was an important politician and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was also one of the people who signed the U.S. Constitution. For many years, he was a leader in Maryland's government when it was still a colony. When problems started with Great Britain, Jenifer strongly supported the American side, known as the Patriot cause.

Early Life and Maryland Government Role

Jenifer was born at a place called Coates Retirement, which is now known as Ellerslie. This estate was located west of Port Tobacco in Charles County, Maryland. His parents were Dr. Daniel Jenifer and Elizabeth Mason.

When he was young, Jenifer worked as a financial agent for the last two owners of Maryland. He was also the uncle of three other important figures: Thomas Stone, Michael J. Stone, and John Hoskins Stone.

Jenifer served as a judge in Charles County and later for the western part of Maryland. He was part of a group that helped solve a border argument between Pennsylvania and Delaware in 1760. From 1773 to 1776, he was a member of the Governor's Council. This council was the upper house of Maryland's lawmaking body. It also acted as the colony's highest court and advised the governor.

Supporting the American Revolution

Even though Jenifer had close ties to the colonial government, he disagreed with what he and many other important colonists saw as unfair actions by the British Parliament. They especially disliked the laws about taxes and trade.

Years before the fight for independence began, Jenifer had defended Maryland's owners against those who wanted Maryland to become a Royal colony controlled directly by the King. When the American Revolution started, Jenifer used his influence as a wealthy landowner to support the Patriot cause. This was true even though many Patriot leaders had been his opponents in earlier political arguments.

Jenifer became the president of Maryland's Council of Safety from 1775 to 1777. This Patriot group was created to get Maryland's military ready for the Revolution. In 1776, when Maryland created its own new constitution, Jenifer noted that the document didn't focus enough on the idea that power should come from the people.

During and after the war, Jenifer became more and more interested in national issues. He represented Maryland in the Continental Congress from 1778 to 1782. At the same time, he was also the president of Maryland's first state senate from 1777 to 1780. From 1782 to 1785, Jenifer managed Maryland's money. His experience as a landowner helped the state get through a tough economic time after the war.

Along with James Madison, John Dickinson, George Mason, and his good friend George Washington, Jenifer started looking for ways to fix the economic and political problems that had appeared under the weak Articles of Confederation. Because of this, he attended the Mount Vernon Conference. This meeting eventually led to the Constitutional Convention.

The Constitutional Convention

Like his old friend Benjamin Franklin, Jenifer was seen as a wise older statesman at the Constitutional Convention. This important meeting took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jenifer used his respected position, along with his good humor and friendly nature, to help create a strong and lasting union of the states. He worked to bring opposing ideas together and helped create the compromises that made the convention a success.

Jenifer shared his thoughts on several important issues, even though his age limited how much he participated in the daily discussions. His experience managing a large farm had convinced him that a strong central government was needed to make sure the country's money and trade were stable. To achieve this, Jenifer supported a strong and lasting union of the states. He believed that a Congress representing the people should have the power to collect taxes.

He was also concerned about keeping the new government stable. He thought that members of the United States House of Representatives should serve three-year terms. He believed that elections happening too often might make people not care as much, and important people might not want to run for office. Jenifer's idea was not chosen, but he was amazed at how the delegates were able to agree on a plan for government. He famously said, "The first month we only came to grips, and the second it seemed as though we would fly apart forever, however we came as close as friends of eighty years in but days." When Luther Martin, another delegate from Maryland, joked that he feared being hanged if the people of Maryland approved the Constitution, Jenifer quickly replied that Martin should just stay in Philadelphia so he wouldn't be hanged in his home state.

Later Life and Legacy

After the convention, Jenifer retired to his plantation called Stepney, near Annapolis. He passed away there in 1790. He was buried at Ellerslie, the place where he was born. Ellerslie is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In his will, Jenifer left his large land holdings, about 16,000 acres (65 square kilometers), to his nephew, Daniel Jenifer. He also made plans for the people he enslaved to gain their freedom six years after his death. The next year, his nephew had a son, who was named after his great-uncle. This younger Daniel Jenifer also served as a judge in Charles County, just like his uncle. He also served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. His family home, Retreat, was in Charles County, near Port Tobacco, which was a major port for the slave trade at the time. Retreat was built in the late 1700s and is also on the National Register of Historic Places.

Jenifer Street in Madison, Wisconsin, is named in his honor. There is also a Jenifer Street in Washington, D.C.. Daniel of Saint Thomas Jenifer Elementary School in Charles County was named after him. This school is part of the Charles County Public Schools district.