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William Hooper was a native of Boston, province of
Massachusetts Bay, where he was born on the seventeenth of June, 1742.
His father's name was also William Hooper. He was born in Scotland, in the
year 1702, and soon after leaving the university of Edinburgh emigrated to
America. He settled in Boston, where he became connected in marriage with the
daughter of Mr. John Dennie, a respectable merchant. Not long after his
emigration, he was elected pastor of Trinity Church, in Boston, in which office,
such were his fidelity and affectionate intercourse with the people of his
charge, that long after his death he was remembered by them with peculiar
veneration and regard.
William Hooper, a biographical notice of whom we are now to give, was the
eldest of five children. At an early age he exhibited indications of
considerable talent. Until he was seven years old, he was instructed by his
father; but at length, became a member of a free grammar school, in Boston,
which at that time was under the care of Mr. John Lovell a teacher of
distinguished eminence. At the age of fifteen, he entered Harvard University,
where he acquired the reputation of a good classical scholar; and, at length, in
1760, commenced bachelor of arts, with distinguished honor.
Mr. Hooper had destined his son for the ministerial office. But his
inclination turning towards the law, he obtained his father's consent to pursue
the studies of that profession, in the office of the celebrated James Otis. On
being qualified for the bar, he left the province of Massachusetts, with the
design of pursuing the practice of his profession in North Carolina. After
spending a year or two in that province, his father became exceedingly desirous
that he should return home. The health of his son had greatly suffered, in
conse-quence of an excessive application to the duties of his profes-sion. In
addition to this, the free manner of living, generally adopted by the wealthier
inhabitants of the south, and in which he had probably participated, had not a
little contributed to the injury of his health.
Notwithstanding the wishes of his father, in regard to his favorite son, the
latter, at length, in tile fall of 1767, fixed his residence permanently in
North Carolina, and became connected by marriage with Miss Ann Clark, of
Wilmington, in that province.
Mr. Hooper now devoted himself with great zeal to his professional duties. He
early enjoyed the confidence of his fellow citizens, and was highly respected by
his brethren at the bar, among whom he occupied an enviable rank.
In the year 1773, he was appointed to represent the town of Wilmington, in
which he resided, in the general assembly. In the following year he was elected
to a seat in the same body, soon after taking which, he was called upon to
assist in opposing a most tyrannical act of the British government, in respect
to the laws regulating the courts of justice in the province.
The former laws in relation to these courts being about to expire, others
became necessary. Accordingly, a bill was brought forward, the provisions of
which were designed to regulate the courts as formerly. But the advocates of the
British government took occasion to introduce a clause into the bill, which was
intended to exempt from attachment all species of property in North Carolina,
which belonged to non-residents. This bill having passed the senate, and been
approved of by the governor, was sent to the house of repre-sentatives, where it
met with a most spirited opposition. In this opposition Mr. Hooper tools the
lead. In strong and animated language, he set forth the injustice of this part
of the bill, and remonstrated against its passage by the house. In consequence
of the measures which were pursued by the respective houses composing the
general assembly, the pro-vince was left for more than a year without a single
court of law. Personally to Mr. Hooper, the issue of this business was highly
injurious, since he was thus deprived of the prac-tice of his profession, upon
which he depended for his sup-port. Conscious, however, of having discharged his
duty, he bowed in submission to the pecuniary sacrifices to which he was thus
called, preferring honorable poverty to the greatest pecuniary acquisitions, if
the latter must he made at the expense of principle.
On the twenty-fifth of August, 1774, Mr. Hooper was elected a delegate to the
general congress, to be held at Philadel-phia. Soon after taking his seat in
this body, he was placed upon several important committees, and when occasion
re-quired, took a share in the animated discussions, which were had on the
various important subjects which came before them. On one occasion, and the
first on which he addressed the house, it is said, that he so entirely riveted
the attention of the members by his bold and animated language, that many
expressed their wonder that such eloquence should flow forth from a member from
North Carolina.
In the following year, Mr. Hooper was again appointed a delegate to serve in
the second general congress, during whose session he was selected as the
chairman of a committee appointed to report an address to the inhabitants of
Jamaica. The draught was the production of his pen. It was charac-terized for
great boldness, and was eminently adapted to produce a strong impression upon
the people for whom it was designed. In conclusion of the address, Mr. Hooper
used the following bold and animated language:
"That our petitions have been treated with disdain, is now become the
smallest part of our complaint: ministerial inso-lence is lost in ministerial
barbarity. It has, by an exertion peculiarly ingenious, procured those very
measures, which it laid us under the hard necessity of pursuing, to be
stigmatized in parliament as rebellious: it has employed additional fleets and
armies for the infamous purpose of compelling us to abandon them: it has plunged
us in all the horrors and ca-lamities of a civil war: it has caused the treasure
and blood of Britons (formerly shed and expended for far other ends) to be spilt
and wasted in the execrable design of spreading slavery over British America: it
will not, however, accom-plish its aim; in the worst of contingencies, a choice
will still be left, which it never can prevent us from making."
In January, 1776, Mr. Hooper was appointed, with Dr. Franklin and Mr.
Livingston, a committee to report to con-gress a proper method of honoring the
memory of General Montgomery, who had then recently fallen beneath the walls of
Quebec. This committee, in their report, recommended the erection of a monument,
which, while it expressed the re-spect and affection of the colonies, might
record, for the benefit of future ages, the patriotic zeal and fidelity,
enterprise and perseverance of the hero, whose memory the monument was designed
to celebrate. In compliance with the recom-mendation of this committee, a
monument was afterwards erected by congress in the city of New York.
In the spring, 1776, the private business of Mr. Hooper so greatly required
his attention in North Carolina, that he did not attend upon the sitting of
congress. He returned, how-ever, in season to share in the honor of passing and
publishing to the world the immortal Declaration Of Independence.
On the twentieth of December, 1776, he was elected a de-legate to congress
for the third time. The embarrassed situ-ation of his private affairs, however,
rendered his longer ab-sence from Carolina inconsistent with his interests.
Accordingly, in February, 1777, he relinquished, his seat in con-gress, and not
long after tendered to the general assembly his resignation of the important
trust.
But, although he found it necessary to retire from this par-ticular sphere of
action, he was nevertheless usefully employed in Carolina. He was an ardent
friend to his country, zeal-ously attached to her rights, and ready to make
every required personal sacrifice for her good. Nor like many other patriots of
the day, did he allow himself to indulge in despondency. While to others the
prospect appeared dubious, he would al-ways point to some brighter spots on the
canvass, and upon these he delighted to dwell.
In 1786, Mr. Hooper was appointed by congress one of the judges of a federal
court, which was formed for the purpose of settling a controversy which existed
between the states of New York and Massachusetts, in regard to certain lands,
the jurisdiction of which each pretended to claim. The point at issue was of
great importance, not only as it related to a con-siderable extent of territory,
but in respect of the people of these two states, among whom great excitement
prevailed on the subject. Fortunately, the respective parties themselves
appointed commissioners to settle the dispute, which was, at length, amicably
done, and the above federal court were saved a most difficult and delicate duty.
In the following year, the constitutional infirmities of Mr. Hooper
increasing, his health became considerably impaired. He now gradually relaxed
from public and professional exer-tions, and in a short time sought repose in
retirement, which he greatly coveted. In the month of October, 1790, at the
early age of forty-eight years, he was called to exchange worlds. He left a
widow, two sons, and a daughter, the last of whom only, it is believed, still
lives.
In his person, Mr. Hooper was of middle stature, well formed, but of delicate
and slender appearance. He carried a pleasing and intelligent countenance. In
his manners he was polite and engaging, although towards those with whom he was
not particularly acquainted, he was somewhat reserved. He was distinguished for
his powers of conversation; in point of literary merit he had but few rivals in
the neighborhood in which he dwelt.
As a lawyer, he was distinguished for his professional knowledge, and
indefatigable zeal in respect to business with which he was entrusted. Towards
his brethren he ever maintained a high and honorable course of conduct and
particularly towards the younger members of the bar. As a politician, he was
characterized for judgment, ardor, and constancy. In times of the greatest
political difficulty and danger, he was calm, but resolute. He never desponded;
but trusting to the justice of his country's cause, he had an unshaken
confidence that heaven would protect and deliver her.
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