Thomas Mifflin

Mifflin, Thomas, 1744–1800, American Revolutionary general and political leader, b. Philadelphia. Turning from business to public affairs, he was a member of the Pennsylvania provincial assembly and of the First Continental Congress. He joined the army early in the American Revolution and rose to the rank of quartermaster general. He held that post, except for a brief interruption, until 1778, when he resigned after being accused of misuse of funds. The charges were never substantiated. Dissatisfied with George Washington's conduct of the war, he became involved in the Conway Cabal and tried to undermine Washington, but later he renewed his friendship with the commander in chief. Mifflin again served in the Continental Congress (1782–84) and was its president (1783–84). He was later a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention (1787), and was governor of Pennsylvania (1790–99) during the Whiskey Rebellion and the revolt of the Pennsylvania Germans under John Fries. Although he initially refused to commit the Pennsylvania militia to suppressing the Whiskey Rebellion, he eventually cooperated with President Washington against the insurgents.

See study by K. R. Rossman (1952).


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