Timothy Matlack (395)

Timothy Matlack (c. 28 March 1736–14 April 1829) was a merchant, brewer, and politician, and a member of the American Philosophical Society, elected in 1780. Born to a Quaker family in Haddonfield, New Jersey, Matlack was seldom the proper Quaker given his enjoyment of horse races and cockfighting. He established himself as a merchant and a brewer before landing into debtor’s prison. Upon his release, his fellow Quakers chastised him for his unsavory hobbies and company he kept. Nevertheless, he continued to defy Quaker practice, becoming one of Pennsylvania’s most powerful leaders during the Revolutionary War, criticizing Quakers for being slow to support abolition, extolling the militia, and condemning the ultra-wealthy. In 1775 he became clerk to the Secretary of the Second Continental Congress, a storekeeper of military supplies, and a Colonel of the Fifth Rifle Battalion of Philadelphia Associators, leading campaigns in New Jersey. He helped draft a state democratic constitution and declaration of rights, and earned a multitude of honors and offices for his contributions: the assembly appointed him to the state Council of Safety (1776), then elected him Secretary of the Assembly (1776), he became secretary of the Supreme Executive Council (1777), Keeper of the Great Seal (1777), trustee of the University of Pennsylvania (1779), and a delegate to the Second Continental Congress (1780). He gave the annual oration at the American Philosophical Society after his election and served as a secretary for the Society from 1781 to 1783. Despite all his honors, Matlack had made many enemies: he was tried for mismanagement of funds after assembly Republicans accused him. Ultimately, a constitutional body meeting ruled his treatment unconstitutional and annulled the charges. In 1790 Matlack became clerk of the state senate. Ten years later he became state Master of Rolls: recording laws, resolutions, and patents. After the office was abolished in 1809, he retired to his orchards for some time before returning to Philadelphia and serving as an alderman (1813-1818) and prothonotary of the district court of Philadelphia (1817-1822). He died at home in Holmesburg, Pennsylvania. (ANB)