Known for

• Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1789-1798)​

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During 1776

• Delegate for Pennsylvania

• Age: 33

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Background

• Born: 1742 near Leven, Fife, Scotland​

• Education: Studied at the universities of St Andrews, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, but did not obtain a degree

• Immigrated to Philadelphia in 1766, where he studied law under John Dickinson and was admitted to the bar

• Spouse: Rachel Bird (m. 1771, d. 1786), Hannah Gray (m. 1793)

• ​Children: 7 (6 with Bird, 1 with Gray — Gray's child died at age three)

• Slaveowning

  • Claimed to be an opponent of slavery for much of his life

  • Owned a household slave named Thomas Purcell for 26 years

    • ​In 1794, at the request of his wife Hannah Gray, Wilson freed Purcell

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Personal beliefs

• Politics: Patriot/Whig

  • A firm advocate for independence

  • Believing it was his duty to follow the wishes of his constituents, Wilson refused to vote until he had caucused his district. Only after he received more feedback did he vote for independence

  • Historically, voted yes both times

  • In the musical, Wilson voted yes because he didn't want to be remembered as "the man who prevented American independence." This isn't accurate to the historical Wilson, but the musical is using Wilson to represent the historical split vote from Pennsylvania

• Religion: Presbyterian