Bedford, Gunning
Bedford, Gunning
BEDFORD, GUNNING. (1747–1812). Revolutionary statesman. Delaware. Calling himself Gunning Bedford Jr., perhaps to avoid being confused with his cousin (see preceding article), he was born in Philadelphia, was a classmate of James Madison at Princeton, studied law under Joseph Reed, and was admitted to the bar in 1774. He settled in Wilmington in 1783, becoming attorney general of Delaware the following year and holding that office until 1789. He was a delegate to Congress from 1783 to 1786, though he attended few sessions. In 1787 he attended the Constitutional Convention, signed the Constitution, and worked for its ratification at the Delaware convention in December. In 1789 Washington appointed him a judge for the Delaware district, an office he held until his death, 30 March 1812.
revised by Michael Bellesiles