Fort Wilson

According to the Teaching American History website:

 

"James Wilson's house was built in 1779 and while there is no hard evidence that Wilson was living in the house during the time of the Constitutional Convention, he certainly lived there in the preceding years. Wilson was an ardent supporter of majority rule at the Convention, which is all the more remarkable given his experience with what Madison would call mob politics. Wilson's house was attacked by an angry mob in 1778—The Fort Wilson Riots—because Wilson defended the right of Philadelphian loyalists to hold private property.

Wilson was accused by a bunch of Philadelphia militiamen, who had been drinking at a nearby tavern, of helping Tory sympathizers. The standoff between Wilson and the "Get Wilson" insurgents ended with the intervention of the City Troop of Light Horse. For other activities of the City Troop see Entertainment of George Washington."

 

This watercolor of Wilson’s house was painted by Ridgway Evans more than a century after the Fort Wilson event in 1888. (Historical Society of Pennsylvania)

 

 

Source: Teaching American History, Photo
 

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Updated July 2, 2018

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