Button Gwinnett: An American Founding Father and a Figure of Fading Significance
Button Gwinnett, a name that echoes faintly through the annals of American history, was a British-born statesman who etched his signature onto the United States Declaration of Independence. His life, though tragically cut short, was a complex tapestry woven with ambition, political maneuvering, and ultimately, a fatal confrontation. While his contributions to the nascent nation are undeniable, his legacy is often overshadowed by the more prominent figures of the American Revolution.
Early Life and Education: From English Parish to American Shores
Born on March 3, 1735, in the parish of Down Hatherley, nestled in the county of Gloucestershire, England, Button Gwinnett was the third of seven children born to the Reverend Samuel Gwinnett and his wife, Anne. His father's lineage traced back to the ancient Welsh kingdom of Gwynedd, a heritage that perhaps imbued him with a certain tenacity. While specific details of his formal education are scarce, it is believed he attended the College School within the hallowed grounds of Gloucester Cathedral, a path also taken by his elder brother.
His early career began under the tutelage of his uncle, William Gwinnett, a greengrocer in Gloucester. This apprenticeship was followed by another in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, with an ironmonger named John Weston Smith, where he honed his business acumen. On April 19, 1757, he married Ann Bourne, the daughter of a fellow greengrocer, at St. Peter's Church, Wolverhampton. The couple, who would eventually have three daughters, embarked on a new chapter in 1762, emigrating to the American colonies. Their journey was fueled by a desire for opportunity, a common thread among many who would become the Founding Fathers of the United States.
Gwinnett's entrepreneurial spirit led him to explore various ventures across the Atlantic, from Newfoundland to Jamaica. However, his business dealings were not marked by consistent success. In 1765, he settled in Savannah, Georgia, establishing a store that, like previous endeavors, ultimately faltered. Undeterred, he acquired St. Catherine's Island on credit, along with a significant number of enslaved individuals, with the intention of becoming a planter. While this agricultural pursuit also proved largely unsuccessful, it was during this period that Gwinnett began to make his mark in local politics, earning a seat in the Provincial Assembly. His involvement in the burgeoning colonial administration set the stage for his later, more significant, political career.
Political Career: A Voice in the Continental Congress
Gwinnett's initial engagement with the cause of colonial rights was not immediate. It wasn't until 1775, when St. John's Parish, the area encompassing his landholdings, threatened to secede from Georgia due to the colony's perceived conservative stance on the escalating tensions with Great Britain, that Gwinnett emerged as a more vocal advocate for independence. Within the Provincial Assembly, his primary rival was Lachlan McIntosh, a figure who would play a pivotal role in Gwinnett's fate. Conversely, Lyman Hall stood as his closest ally, a testament to the shifting alliances and personal rivalries that characterized the era.
His growing influence led to his appointment as a representative for Georgia at the Continental Congress. It was in this esteemed body that Gwinnett cast his vote in favor of the United States Declaration of Independence, a document adopted on July 2, 1776. He affixed his signature to the engrossed parchment copy on August 2, 1776, a moment that would forever cement his place in American history. His inscription is notably the first on the left side of the signatory list, a detail that, while minor, adds to his distinctiveness. Following this momentous occasion, he journeyed as far as Virginia with Carter Braxton, another signer, who was carrying a draft of a proposed state constitution penned by John Adams. During his tenure with the Continental Congress, Gwinnett’s ambitions extended to military leadership; he vied for a brigadier general position to command the 1st Regiment of the Continental Army. However, the position was awarded to his nemesis, McIntosh, a defeat that left Gwinnett deeply embittered and likely fueled their animosity.
Returning to Georgia, Gwinnett served in the Georgia state legislature. In 1777, he was instrumental in drafting Georgia's first state constitution. His political ascent continued as he became Speaker of the Georgia Assembly. This position he held until the death of the provisional president (and effectively, Governor) of Georgia, Archibald Bulloch. The Executive Council of the Assembly then elevated Gwinnett to fill the vacancy, placing him in a position of considerable power. From this vantage point, Gwinnett actively sought to undermine McIntosh's influence within the state. The simmering tensions between the two men reached a critical juncture in April 1777, when the General Assembly approved Gwinnett's ambitious plan for an attack on British Florida.
Death: The Tragic Climax of a Rivalry
As the acting Delegate from Georgia to the Continental Congress and the commander-in-chief of Georgia's military forces, Gwinnett held a superior rank to his long-standing rival, McIntosh. This power imbalance manifested in Gwinnett's actions against McIntosh's family; he ordered the arrest and charging of McIntosh's brother with treason. Furthermore, Gwinnett commanded McIntosh to lead the ill-fated invasion of British-controlled East Florida. The expedition's failure served as a catalyst for the final, fatal confrontation between the two men. Gwinnett and McIntosh publicly blamed each other for the disastrous outcome, with McIntosh openly denouncing Gwinnett as "a scoundrel and lying rascal."
The escalating animosity culminated in Gwinnett challenging McIntosh to a duel. The fateful encounter took place on May 16, 1777, on a plantation belonging to the former Royal Governor, James Wright. At a distance of twelve paces, the two men exchanged pistol fire. Both were wounded, but Gwinnett's injuries proved mortal. He succumbed to his wounds three days later, on May 19, 1777, at the tragically young age of 42. His final resting place is believed to be Savannah's Colonial Park Cemetery. McIntosh, though also wounded, recovered and continued his military and political career, living until 1806. He faced no legal repercussions for his role in Gwinnett's death.
Legacy: Rarity, Recognition, and Resonance
Button Gwinnett's autograph holds an almost mythical status among collectors. This extreme desirability stems from a confluence of factors: the fervent quest by many to assemble a complete set of signatures from all 56 signers of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, and the sheer rarity of Gwinnett's signature. Having been relatively unknown before signing the Declaration and dying shortly thereafter, only 51 examples of his signature are known to exist, with a mere ten remaining in private hands. This scarcity has driven astronomical prices; a letter bearing his signature commanded a record 100,000, further underscoring his unique place in the autograph market.
In recognition of his role in Georgia's history, Gwinnett County, Georgia, a significant suburban hub within the Atlanta metropolitan area, bears his name. He is also honored alongside two other Georgia signers of the Declaration of Independence at the Signers Monument in Augusta, a tribute to their collective contributions.
Beyond the realm of historical commemoration, Gwinnett's name has found its way into popular culture, often highlighting his rarity. The 1932 film Washington Merry-Go-Round featured a fictional descendant, while the 1958 film The Last Hurrah included a character remarking on the unparalleled value of Gwinnett's signature. Isaac Asimov's 1953 short story "Button, Button" even explored the idea of obtaining his signature through temporal means. More recently, in 2015, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Stephen Colbert engaged in a humorous rap battle as Gwinnett and John Adams respectively, in a parody musical sketch on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, playfully referencing Gwinnett's historical footnote.
Even the mundane has a touch of Gwinnett; the Liberty ship SS Button Gwinnett, launched in 1943, served its purpose during World War II before being scrapped in 1968. While the ship itself is long gone, its name serves as a small, tangible reminder of the man whose life, though brief and marked by personal tragedy, left an indelible, albeit rare, signature on the fabric of American history.