William Few Jr. was a Founding Father from the State of Georgia. He represented the state at the Constitutional Convention and became its first U.S. senator.
Early Life
William Few Jr. was born on June 8, 1748, in Baltimore, Maryland. Born into a poor farming family, he receive little formal schooling. His family moved to North Carolina in search of a better life. In 1771, Few, his father, and brother became involved with the “Regulators,” a group of frontiersmen who opposed the political and economic restrictions imposed by the royal governor. His brother was hung for his role in the uprising, and Few’s family fled to Georgia. After settling his family’s affairs in North Carolina, Few was admitted to the bar in Georgia and established a law practice in Augusta.
During the Revolutionary War, Few rose from a volunteer militia member to a respected military commander. His leadership during the war lead to a successful political career. Few was first elected to the Georgia House of Representatives. In 1780, he was appointed to represent Georgia in the Continental Congress, which became the Congress of the Confederation upon the ratification of the Articles of Confederation.
Constitutional Convention
In 1787, Few was nominated to represent Georgia at the Constitutional Convention. However, because he was still serving in the Confederation Congress, he missed several sessions.
Few did not play a large role at the Convention; however, he supported the effort to create a strong national government. Fellow delegate William Pierce stated that “Mr. Few possesses a strong natural Genius, and from application has acquired some knowledge of legal matters.” Following the signing of the Constitution, Few participated in Georgia’s ratification convention. He was then elected one of the state’s first Senators. He served from 1789 to 1793.
Later Public Service
When his Senate term ended, Few returned home. He again served in the Georgia Assembly before being appointed as a federal judge for the Georgia circuit. In 1799, he retired and moved to New York City, his wife’s home town.
Few continued his career in public office, serving as a member of the New York Legislature, New York’s Inspector of Prisons, and U.S. Commissioner of Loans. Few also served as President of the City Bank of New York, which would later become Citigroup. Few died on July 16, 1828, at the age of 80.
