STAAR Biographies

Colonial America Important People

Thomas Hooker Founder of Connecticut Connecticut 1586-1647 Founded the colony of Connecticut and helped write the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut which called for the election of officials.

John Locke British Philosopher England 1632-1704 Promoted the idea of natural law which emphasized individual rights. His idea helped inspire the American Revolution.

Charles de Montesquieu Social and Political Philosopher France 1689-1755 Montesquieu’s book The Spirit of the Laws influenced America’s founders. His main idea was that separation of powers was necessary to maintain individual liberty.

William Penn Founder of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania 1644-1718 Helped establish the Pennsylvania Colony. Promoted religious tolerance because his faith, Quakerism, was often persecuted.

William Blackstone Expert jurist, professor, and writer. England 1723-1780 Blackstone’s book Commentaries on the Laws of England was the most read legal book in Colonial America.

American Revolution Important People

Abigail Adams Second First Lady of the U.S. Massachusetts 1744-1818 Promoted equal education for women before most people.

John Adams Founding Father, Federalist, Second President of the U.S. Massachusetts 1735-1826 1797-1801 (U.S. President) Adams served as America in the Continental Congress during the American Revolution and became the second President of the U.S.

Samuel Adams Founding Father, Sons of Liberty Leader. Boston, Massachusetts 1722-1803 Adams was the leader of the Sons of Liberty, which organized many protests against the British, including the Boston Tea Party.

James Armistead First African-American double spy. Virginia 1760-1830 Armistead was a double spy who worked for the Americans.

Crispus Attucks Boston Massacre Victim Boston, Massachusetts 1722-1770 First person to die in the Boston Massacre. Viewed by many as the first casualty of the American Revolution.

No Picture Available Wentworth Cheswell American Revolution Veteran, First African-American to hold public office. New Hampshire 1746-1817 Part of the midnight ride that warned of the British. No Picture Available

Benjamin Franklin Founding Father, Journalist, Diplomat Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1706-1790 Franklin promoted American unity and independence. He wrote or signed the Albany Plan of Union, Declaration of Independence, Treaty of Paris (1783), and the Constitution.

Bernardo de Gálvez Spanish Administrator, General Spain/Louisiana/Florida 1746-1786 Helped the U.S. during the American Revolution by winning battles in Florida and Mississippi River.

Patrick Henry Founding Father, Anti-Federalist Virginia 1736-1799 Advocate for liberty. Henry was one of the leaders of the American Revolution.

King George III King of England England 1738-1820 Unpopular King of England during the American Revolution.

Thomas Jefferson Founding Father, Anti-Federalist, Third President of the U.S. Virginia 1743-1826 1801-1809 (U.S. President) Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence which said that all men were created equally and were entitled to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

John Paul Jones American Naval Officer during the American Revolution. Virginia 1747-1792 Fought well against the British’s feared navy.

Marquis de Lafayette French General France/U.S. 1757-1834 1777-1781 (Assisted American Revolution) Convinced France to assist the Americans during the Revolutionary War. Led troops during the war.

Thomas Paine Journalist England/New Jersey 1737-1809 1776 (Common Sense) Thomas Paine helped inspire the American Revolution with his pamphlet Common Sense.

Haym Salomon Businessman Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1740-1785 A member of the “Sons of Liberty”. Salomon helped pay for the American Revolution.

Mercy Otis Warren Writer, Historian Massachusetts 1728-1814 Promoted and honored the American Revolution with her writings. Her book, the History of the Rise, Progress, and Termination of the American Revolution is her most famous book.

George Washington Founding Father, Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, First President of the U.S. Virginia 1732-1799 1789-1797 (U.S. President) Washington is known as the “Father” of the U.S. because he helped the U.S. win independence as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army.

Creation and Ratification of the Constitution Important People

Benjamin Franklin Founding Father, Journalist, Diplomat Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1706-1790 Franklin promoted American unity and independence. He wrote or signed the Albany Plan of Union, Declaration of Independence, Treaty of Paris (1783), and the Constitution.

Alexander Hamilton Federalist, First Secretary of the Treasury New York 1755-1804 Made many arguments for the Constitution in the Federalist Papers. Believed a stronger National Government was needed to ensure the safety and stability of the country.

Patrick Henry Founding Father, Anti-Federalist Virginia 1736-1799 Henry opposed America’s Constitution because he feared it would give the government too much power. Henry believed in State’s Rights.

James Madison Founding Father, Federalist, Fourth U.S. President Virginia 1751-1836 1809-1817 (U.S. President) Helped write the U.S. Constitution. Promoted and explained the Constitution in the Federalist Papers.

George Mason Founding Father and Anti-Federalist Virginia 1725-1792 Wrote Virginia’s Constitution and helped write America’s Constitution. However, Mason felt the new Federal government was too powerful and would damage individual rights.

George Washington Founding Father, Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, First President of the U.S. Virginia 1732-1799 1789-1797 (U.S. President) Washington was elected President during the Constitutional Convention due to his immense popularity.

Early Republic Important People

John Adams Founding Father, Federalist, Second President of the U.S. Massachusetts 1735-1826 1797-1801 (U.S. President) The second President of the U.S. His Presidency was marked by controversy from the XYZ Affair and the Alien and Sedition Acts.

Alexander Hamilton Federalist, First Secretary of the Treasury New York 1755-1804 Helped create the first National Bank. As Secretary of the Treasury he strengthened the National economy.

Thomas Jefferson Founding Father, Anti-Federalist, Third President of the U.S. Virginia 1743-1826 1801-1809 (U.S. President) Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory which doubled the size of the U.S. Also, Jefferson started the Democratic-Republican Party.

James Madison Founding Father, Federalist, Fourth U.S. President Virginia 1751-1836 1809-1817 (U.S. President) President during the War of 1812. Madison’s leadership during the war, helped the nation fight the British to a draw.

John Marshall Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Virginia 1755-1835 Helped establish Judicial Review as Chief Justice. Ruled over some of the most important cases in U.S. History.

James Monroe Fifth U.S. President Virginia 1758-1831 1817-1825 (U.S. President) American President who wrote the Monroe Doctrine which changed American foreign policy by making it more aggressive/strong.

George Washington Founding Father, Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, First President of the U.S. Virginia 1732-1799 1789-1797 (U.S. President) As the first President of the United States, Washington set many examples for future Presidents, such as the Presidential Cabinet and serving two terms.

The Age of Jackson Important People

John Quincy Adams Secretary of State, Sixth President of U.S., Congressmen Massachusetts 1767-1848 Beat Andrew Jackson with the help of Henry Clay. He received less votes than Jackson and his Presidency was not respected as a result.

John C. Calhoun Senator, Vice President, States Rights Advocate South Carolina 1782-1850 1828-1833 (Nullification Crisis) As Vice-President of the U.S. Calhoun fought with Jackson over the Tariff of 1828 and the idea of Nullification. Nullification said states could cancel out Federal Laws.

Henry Clay Speaker of the House, Secretary of State Kentucky 1777-1852 As leader of the Whig Party. Clay was one of Jackson’s biggest political enemies. Clay supported Industrialization and government support of business.

Andrew Jackson Army General, Seventh President of the U.S. Tennessee 1767-1845 1829-1837 (U.S. President) Andrew Jackson’s election and Presidency was the beginning of the “common” man. He turned the Presidency into a more powerful office.

Reform and Culture Important People

Susan B. Anthony Woman Suffragist New York and Massachusetts 1820-1906 One of the first and most important fighters for woman’s rights.

John James Audubon Painter New York 1785-1851 Audubon’s artwork focused on nature and helped “define” the American style of art.

Frederick Douglass Former Slave, Abolitionist, Author, Editor Washington, D.C. 1818-1895 Wrote on of the most impactful biographies of American History. Argued for the rights of African-Americans and women.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton Woman Suffragist Seneca Falls, New York 1815-1902 Seneca Falls (1848) Organized the Seneca Falls convention which was viewed as the beginning of the Women’s Rights Movement.

Henry David Thoreau Author and pioneer of Civil Disobedience. Massachusetts 1817-1862 Thoreau’s ideas about civil disobedience inspired leaders like Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King.

Sectionalism and Civil War Important People

John Quincy Adams Secretary of State, Sixth President of U.S., Congressmen Massachusetts 1767-1848 Only President to become later become a Congressmen. As a Congressmen, Adams fought passionately against slavery.

No Picture Available Philip Bazaar Served in the Union Navy Born in Chile, lived in Massachusetts (1864-1865) Served for the Union Won the Medal of Honor for his service during the battle for Fort Fisher. No Picture Available

John C. Calhoun Senator, Vice President, States Rights Advocate South Carolina 1782-1850 1828-1833 (Nullification Crisis) Calhoun promoted the idea that states had the right to ignore federal laws. His views influenced the Confederacy.

Henry Clay Speaker of the House, Secretary of State Kentucky 1777-1852 Known as the “Great Compromiser”, Clay tried to keep the country together before the Civil War with acts such as The Compromise of 1850.

William Carney Union Soldier Born in Virginia, but escaped to Massachusetts. 1840-1908 (1863) Battle of Fort Wagner Won the Medal of Honor for defending the flag while wounded during the Battle of Fort Wagner.

Jefferson Davis President of the Confederacy Mississippi 1808-1889 (1861-1865) Confederate President Led the Confederacy during the Civil War.

Frederick Douglass Former Slave, Abolitionist, Author, Editor Washington, D.C. 1818-1895 Wrote on of the most impactful biographies of American History. Argued for the rights of African-Americans and women.

Ulysses S. Grant Union General, Eighteenth U.S. President Ohio 1822-1885 1861-1865 (Union General) Led the Union Army during the Civil War. Grant was the best General of the Union. He later became President and fought against the KKK during Reconstruction.

Stonewall Jackson Confederate General Virginia 1824-1863 Battle of Bull Run (1861) Won many of the early battles of the Civil War and was known as one the Civil War’s great general.

Robert E. Lee Confederate General Virginia 1807-1870 1861-1865 (Confederate General) Considered one of the best generals of American History. Lee led the Confederate Army against the Union Army.

Abraham Lincoln Sixteenth U.S. President Illinois and Washington D.C. 1809-1865 1861-1865 (U.S. President) Led the U.S. during the Civil War. Wrote some of the best speeches in American History, which helped redefine the country.

Hiram Rhodes U.S. Senator Mississippi 1827-1901 First African-American to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Daniel Webster U.S. Senator Massachusetts 1782-1852 As Senator of Massachusetts, Webster promoted the Union against Sectionalism.