A lawyer's quest to preserve the past, fight for equality

William Rawle was involved in the creation of many local institutions. He was the first president of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, a member of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society in its infancy, and the founder of the Rawle & Henderson law firm, now recognized as the oldest law firm in continuous practice in the nation.

Rawle was born in 1759 and grew up in the wealthy Quaker household of his Loyalist stepfather, Samuel Shoemaker, the mayor of Philadelphia in 1769-70.

As Quakers, the family remained neutral at the Revolution's outset. However, during the British occupation of Philadelphia, Shoemaker collaborated with the redcoats by helping with law enforcement in the city. Once the British fled and Washington's troops returned to the city from Valley Forge, Shoemaker was convicted of high treason. Fearing for his life, he left Philadelphia, taking young Rawle with him.

Sailing first to New York, and eventually to England, Rawle kept a diary of his travels and wrote letters often. While in England, he studied law at Middle Temple, and his writing illustrated his frustration over the lack of equality in England.

Rawle disapproved of the emphasis on rank and birth over merit and skill; his writing consistently noted his preference for the equality enjoyed by Americans, and he returned to the United States in 1783.

Upon arrival, Rawle joined the Society for Political Inquiries, where he discussed politics with Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Rush, and Thomas Paine. The minutes of their meetings are held at HSP.

During the drafting of the U.S. Constitution, Rawle subscribed to Federalist ideas, arguing for a strong central government; his book A View of the Constitution of the United States of America is still studied by law students. George Washington, whom Rawle hailed as an admirable man during the Revolution, appointed him to the position of U.S. attorney for Pennsylvania in 1791.

Rawle devoted the rest of his life to preserving the history of America and upholding the law in Philadelphia. During his inaugural address to HSP, he asserted that the institution would not hold an "apathy to progress." He wanted "no opportunity to be lost" in preserving the past for the benefit of future generations.

As a lifelong Quaker, and through his work as a lawyer and with the Abolition Society, Rawle fought for equal rights for Native Americans and African Americans. He died in 1836.