George Clymer, a signer of the declaration of independence, born in Philadelphia in 1739, died at Morrisville, Bucks co., Pa., Jan. 23, 1813. Left an orphan at the age of 7 years, he was adopted by his uncle, William Coleman, who educated him, brought him up to mercantile pursuits, and eventually left him the bulk of his fortune. His first appearance in public life was at a "tea meeting" in Philadelphia, Oct. 16, 1773, when he was made chairman of the committee to request the tea agents to resign, and soon after he was a member of the council of safety. He was one of the first two continental treasurers, from July 29, 1775, to Aug. 6, 1776, when he resigned. During his term of office he converted all his own specie into continental money, besides subscribing liberally to the loan. On July 20, 1776, with four others, he was appointed to succeed the members of the Pennsylvania delegation who had refused their assent to the declaration of independence; and, although he was not present when it was agreed upon, he and his associates signed that instrument. He was appointed with Stockton, Sept. 26, 1776, to visit Ticon-deroga and inspect the northern army.

When congress removed in December to Baltimore, he was appointed one of the commissioners to guard the public interests in Philadelphia. He was reelected to congress, March 12, 1777. On July 11 he was appointed one of the commissioners to inspect Washington's army. After the battle of Brandy wine, Sept. 11, the British plundered and burned his country residence in Chester co., 25 m. from Philadelphia. On Pec. 11 he was appointed one of the commissioners to treat with hostile Indians, and to endeavor to suppress disaffection among some of the whites on the western frontier of the states. From November, 1780, to November, 1782, he sat for the third time in the continental congress. In 1780 he was deputed with John Nixon to organize the bank of North America, and in 1782 he was associated with Rutledge in a mission to persuade the southern states to contribute their quotas to the purposes of the war. In 1784 he was sent to the legislature, where he was influential in modifying the severity of the criminal code; and in 1787 he was a member of the convention that framed the federal constitution.

From 1789 to 1791 he was a member of congress; and in the latter year he was placed at the head of the excise department in Pennsylvania, and held the office till after the suppression of the whiskey riots, when he resigned. In 1796 he was one of the commissioners who successfully negotiated a treaty with the Cherokees and Creeks in Georgia, after which he retired from public life. He was the first president of the Philadelphia bank, of the academy of fine arts, and of the Philadelphia agricultural society on its reorganization in 1805, all of which offices he held till he died.