Clymer, George

Clymer, George (klī` mər), 1739–1813, American political leader, signer of the Declaration of Independence, b. Philadelphia. A prosperous merchant, he ardently supported the colonial cause before the American Revolution and served (1775–76) as one of the Continental treasurers. In 1776 he served as delegate to the Continental Congress, where he signed the Declaration of Independence. He was again (1780–83) a delegate to the Continental Congress. Clymer was the first president of the Bank of Philadelphia, and he helped to organize the Bank of North America. While in the Pennsylvania legislature (1785–88), he wrote a report leading to penal code reforms. Clymer, a delegate to the Federal Convention, was a member (1789–91) of the first U.S. Congress.