Historedia
Person

Charles Thomson

Events
3
Episodes
10
Years
1776–1784

Every event in Historedia whose sources name Charles Thomson, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Adoption of the Great Seal of the United States

    1776–1782

    Role: Secretary of the Continental Congress who prepared and presented the final design

    1. July 4, 1776 · Continental CongressFirst Committee Named

      Congress named the first committee to design a Great Seal on July 4, 1776, the day independence was declared.

    2. March 25 – May 10, 1780 · Continental CongressSecond Committee Reports

      A second committee formed March 25, 1780, reported a design to Congress on May 10, 1780.

    3. May 4–9, 1782 · Continental CongressThird Committee and Barton Design

      Congress formed a third committee on May 4, 1782; William Barton's design was submitted five days later.

    4. June 13, 1782 · Continental CongressThomson Prepares Final Design

      On June 13, 1782, Congress turned to Secretary Charles Thomson with all material from the three committees.

    5. June 20, 1782 · Continental CongressAdoption of the Great Seal

      The design was submitted to Congress on June 20, 1782, and accepted the same day, depicting a bald eagle with thirteen arrows and an olive branch.

    6. September 16, 1782 · United States federal governmentFirst Use of the Seal

      Charles Thomson first used the seal on September 16, 1782, to verify signatures authorizing a prisoner exchange negotiation.

  2. Approval of the Articles of Confederation

    1777

    Role: Secretary to the Congress; signed the November 17, 1777 cover letter accompanying copies sent to the states

    1. 1777 · Temporary seat of the Continental CongressCongress Relocates to York

      To evade advancing British troops, Congress left Philadelphia in fall 1777 for Lancaster and then York, Pennsylvania, where it would finalize the Articles.

    2. Late November 1777 · Origin of the ratification copiesCopies Sent to the States

      In late November 1777, unsigned copies of the approved Articles were sent to the states for ratification, with a November 17 cover letter signed by Laurens and Thomson.

    3. November 15, 1777 · Site of the Continental Congress's approval of the ArticlesFinal Approval of the Articles, November 15, 1777

      On November 15, 1777, the Second Continental Congress finalized and approved the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union for distribution to the states.

  3. Richard Henry Lee Selected as President of the Confederation Congress

    1784

    Role: Secretary who forwarded papers needing Lee's signature

    1. November 30, 1784 · French Arms Tavern, Trenton, New JerseyElection of Richard Henry Lee as President

      Lee was elected the sixth president of Congress under the Articles of Confederation on November 30, 1784.

Sources

  1. Great Seal of the United States Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-27
  2. Articles of Confederation Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-30
  3. President of the Continental Congress Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-07