You're listening to an AirWave Media Podcast.

Ben Franklin's World is a production of Colonial Williamsburg Innovation Studios.

Hello and welcome to episode 366 of Ben Franklin's World.

The podcast dedicated to helping you learn more about how the people and events of our

early American past have shaped the present day world we live in.

And I'm your host, Liz Covart.

On September 17, 1787, the members of the Constitutional Convention concluded their work

by signing the final draft of their new proposed government.

The document they signed was the United States Constitution, which is why the United States

marks Constitution Day each year on September 17.

In honor of Constitution Day, I thought we'd explore the life of a founder who played a really

large role in the creation and shaping of the United States Constitution, but he's a

founder we don't hear much about.

And that founder is James Wilson.

Michael H. Taylor is a professor of United States History and Political Science at Northeast

Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska.

He's also the author of the book, James Wilson, the anxious founder.

Now, if you've never heard of James Wilson or if you've heard of him, but can't recall

anything more than he was an inaugural member of the United States Supreme Court, no worries.

Most people I've found have never even heard of James Wilson, which is why we'll have

Michael take us through Wilson's life and his very important role in framing the United

States Constitution.

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