Edward Langworthy (1738–1802) was an American

Founding Father The following list of national founding figures is a record, by country, of people who were credited with establishing a state. National founders are typically those who played an influential role in setting up the systems of governance, (i.e. ...

and teacher who was a delegate to the Continental Congress from

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. He signed the Articles of Confederation. Langworthy was born in

Savannah, Georgia Savannah ( ) is the oldest city in the U.S. state of Georgia and is the county seat of Chatham County. Established in 1733 on the Savannah River, the city of Savannah became the British colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later t ...

, in 1738. Nothing is known of his ancestors since he was a

foundling Foundling may refer to: * An abandoned child, see child abandonment * Foundling hospital, an institution where abandoned children were cared for ** Foundling Hospital, Dublin, founded 1704 ** Foundling Hospital, Cork, founded 1737 ** Foundling H ...

. He was raised in the Bethesda Orphan House at Savannah and was educated in the school there. He later taught in that same school. Since he was born only five years after

James Oglethorpe James Edward Oglethorpe (22 December 1696 – 30 June 1785) was a British soldier, Member of Parliament, and philanthropist, as well as the founder of the colony of Georgia in what was then British America. As a social reformer, he hoped to r ...

shipped the first colonists to Georgia, it is likely that his parents were included with those recruited from debtors' prisons or poorhouses. Langworthy began working with Georgia's Committee of Safety and was their secretary when they became a revolutionary Council of Safety on December 11, 1775. The Georgia assembly sent him to the Continental Congress in 1777, and he arrived in time to sign the Articles of Confederation. He served in the Congress until 1779. Edward moved to

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, Maryland, in 1785. He married a young lady named Wright, and the couple had four children. He also bought a part interest in a newspaper ''The Maryland Journal & Baltimore Advertiser'' and became its editor. In 1787, he sold his interest and became an instructor at the Baltimore Academy. In 1795, Langworthy was made the clerk of customs for Baltimore, a post he held until his death. He died of

yellow fever Yellow fever is a viral disease of typically short duration. In most cases, symptoms include fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains – particularly in the back – and headaches. Symptoms typically improve within five days. ...

on November 2, 1802, and was buried at the Old Episcopal Church. The church was torn down in 1891, and details of any re-interment are unknown.

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Langworthy, Edward 1738 births 1802 deaths Deaths from yellow fever Continental Congressmen from Georgia (U.S. state) 18th-century American politicians Signers of the Articles of Confederation Infectious disease deaths in Maryland Founding Fathers of the United States