About
A Lecture with Rev. Dr David Latimer and Courtney McKinney-Whittaker followed by Film Screening: The Man Who Told The Truth
Born in Gorteade near Maghera, Charles Thomson (1729-1824) set sail for the New World from Derry Port with his father and brothers following the death of his mother. His father died at sea leaving him orphaned.
Despite these hardships, Charles became one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, secretary of the continental and US Congress and a confidant of both Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. Thomson finalised the design of the great seal of the United States and co-signed the original Declaration of Independence on the 4th of July 1776. His contribution, from shaping America to creating the first American translation of the Bible, is often overlooked.
Following the lecture, Bruce Clark explores the story of Charles Thomson in the one-hour documentary The Man Who Told The Truth by Imagine Media. To mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this lecture and film will trace the journey of this extraordinary Ulster-Scot from County Derry to the seat of American power.
A number of PRONI items will be on display.
