author
John Dickinson
1732–1808
A careful, influential voice of the American founding, he became known as the “Penman of the Revolution” for writings that helped shape colonial resistance before independence. Though more cautious than some of his contemporaries, he remained deeply involved in building the new nation.
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About the author
Born in Maryland in 1732 and raised in Delaware, John Dickinson studied law in Philadelphia and at the Middle Temple in London before building a successful legal and political career. He is best remembered for the Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania, widely read essays that argued against British taxation and helped rally resistance in the colonies.
Dickinson’s politics were principled but measured. He opposed the Stamp Act and played a major role in the Continental Congress, yet he hesitated to support an immediate break with Britain in 1776, believing independence should come only after fuller preparation and unity. That caution made him less celebrated than some founders, but it also gives his story a distinctive tension and humanity.
He later returned to public service, helped draft the Articles of Confederation, and served as president of both Delaware and Pennsylvania. Remembered as a thoughtful statesman and gifted writer, Dickinson left a mark not through fiery slogans alone, but through steady arguments about liberty, law, and constitutional government.