Historedia
Person

John Dickinson

Events
5
Episodes
14
Years
1767–1785

Every event in Historedia whose sources name John Dickinson, 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. John Dickinson begins 'Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania'

    1767

    Role: Author, writing pseudonymously as 'A Farmer'; Philadelphia lawyer and Pennsylvania assembly member

    1. 2 December 1767 · Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaJohn Dickinson begins 'Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania' in the Pennsylvania Chronicle

      On 2 December 1767, Dickinson began publishing his pseudonymous Letters in the Pennsylvania Chronicle, responding to the Townshend Acts.

  2. Publication of The Liberty Song in Boston

    1768–1770

    Role: Lyricist

    1. 1768 · composition and settingAuthorship and musical setting

      John Dickinson wrote the lyrics, set to the Royal Navy anthem Heart of Oak.

    2. July 7, 1768 · Pennsylvania Journal and Pennsylvania GazetteFirst publication in Pennsylvania newspapers

      The Liberty Song first appeared in the Pennsylvania Journal and the Pennsylvania Gazette on July 7, 1768, not in Boston.

    3. July 7, 1768 · Thirteen ColoniesEarly patriotic song and motto precedent

      One of the earliest patriotic songs in the Thirteen Colonies; its seventh verse parallels united we stand, divided we fall.

    4. 1770 · revision of lyricsLyrics updated in 1770

      The lyrics were updated in 1770 to reflect growing tensions between England and the Colonies.

  3. Approval of the Articles of Confederation

    1777

    Role: Chairman of the drafting committee that presented the Articles to Congress

    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.

  4. Chartering of Dickinson College

    1782–1784

    Role: Namesake; president of Pennsylvania and Founding Father whose family library was donated to the college

    1. 1782 · Philadelphia meeting about a Carlisle collegePlanning a frontier college

      In 1782 Benjamin Rush met John Montgomery and William Bingham in Philadelphia to discuss founding a college in Carlisle.

    2. 1783 · Dickinson CollegeNaming for the Dickinsons and the library gift

      Rush proposed naming the college for John and Mary Norris Dickinson, whose donated joint library was among the largest in the colonies.

    3. September 9, 1783 · Carlisle, PennsylvaniaCharter granted by the Pennsylvania legislature

      On September 9, 1783, the Pennsylvania legislature chartered Dickinson College, the first college founded in the newly independent United States.

    4. April 1784 · Carlisle, PennsylvaniaFirst meeting of the trustees

      Benjamin Rush made his first journey to Carlisle in April 1784 to attend the college trustees' first meeting.

  5. Franklin's Return to Philadelphia

    1785

    Role: Predecessor as President of Pennsylvania

    1. 1785 · PhiladelphiaReturn to Philadelphia

      Franklin returned home in 1785, holding a position second only to George Washington as a champion of American independence.

    2. October 18, 1785 · PhiladelphiaElection as President of Pennsylvania

      Franklin was elected the sixth president of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania on October 18, 1785, replacing John Dickinson.

Sources

  1. Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania Wikipedia
  2. The Liberty Song Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-11
  3. Articles of Confederation Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-30
  4. Dickinson College Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-21
  5. Benjamin Franklin Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-27