Discovering the Past: Top 10 Entertaining Facts About William Paterson You Never Knew

1. Constitutional Convention Influencer

While William Paterson may not have had Instagram-worthy food fotografy skills or a knack for replicating the latest TikTok dance, what he did have, was a penchant for politics and equal representation: Paterson was an attendee of 1787's Constitutional Convention, where he proposed the New Jersey Plan, advocating for equal representation for all states in the federal government, and later played a key role in drafting the Judiciary Act of 1789 as a U.S. Senator.
Source => nj.gov

2. Hogwarts for Teachers: William Paterson University

Long before Hogwarts churned out magical teachers, there was a lesser-known school for spellbinding educators in New Jersey: William Paterson University, originally founded in 1855 as Paterson City Normal School, was dedicated to training teachers for the emerging free public schools of Paterson. It transformed and renamed itself throughout history before finally adopting the title of William Paterson University in honor of the local statesman and patriot, William Paterson.
Source => wpunj.edu

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=> Fun Facts about James-Madison

3. The Disney of Courts: Judiciary Act

Who said courtrooms can't be fun? Welcome to the William Paterson theme park – it's like the Disneyland of federal courts: As a Senator in the First Federal Congress, William Paterson played a critical role in crafting the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established the groundwork for our modern federal court system, ensuring the judiciary's independence and the impartial interpretation of laws.
Source => supremecourthistory.org

4. The Clash of Legislative Titans

In a clash of legislative Titans reminiscent of the epic battles in Game of Thrones, our Constitution architect William Paterson stepped up to the plate with a plan as New Jersey as a Taylor ham, egg, and cheese sandwich: Paterson valiantly proposed the "New Jersey Plan," which called for a unicameral legislature with equal votes for each state - a move that, although didn't become law, contributed to the eventual compromise creating the bicameral legislature, with equal state representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives.
Source => loc.gov

5. Paterson: Schoolhouse Rock OG

Before "Schoolhouse Rock" was rocking the foundations of education, good ol' Willie Paterson was advocating for the edumacation of the nation: This educational enthusiast penned an essay called "On Education" between 1793-95, where he stressed the indispensable role of a child's schooling in securing a country's prosperity, stating that a lack of morals leads to chaos, and without knowledge, true freedom remains an illusion.
Source => wpunj.edu

6. Whose Constitution is it Anyway?

In the 1787 version of "Whose Line is it Anyway?", where U.S. delegates gathered to improvise a constitution, William Paterson, a New Jersey representative, boldly went "unicameral-style" in a game-changing move: Paterson proposed the New Jersey Plan, which suggested a unicameral legislature, and although it didn't make the cut as-is, it did blend with the Virginia Plan to form the bicameral legislature we have in the U.S. today – proving that sometimes, two heads (or plans) are better than one!
Source => politico.com

7. The Sandwich-Ready Founding Father

If William Paterson were a sandwich, he'd surely be a hearty Reuben with extra sauerkraut, because this Founding Father knows how to spice things up with his heritage: Born in County Antrim, Ireland, Paterson immigrated to the United States as a child and went on to play a crucial role in the creation and ratification of the U.S. Constitution, becoming one of seven immigrants to sign the historic document.
Source => theconstitutional.com

8. The Quill-Wielding Superhero

In a world where law and order seemed like a distant dream, one man dared to wield his quill like a superhero's cape: William Paterson crafted the Judiciary Act of 1789 as a U.S. Senator, and swooped into the U.S. Supreme Court as an associate justice from 1793 to 1806, championing justice and shaping America's judiciary system.
Source => let.rug.nl

9. Hamilton & Paterson: Power Duo

In an alternate universe where Alexander Hamilton switched careers from rapping on Broadway to pioneering industry: he joined forces with Governor William Paterson to kickstart America's very own Industrial Revolution! Seriously though: Hamilton co-founded the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures (S.U.M.) alongside Paterson, who the city of Paterson, New Jersey is named after, and their venture saw the development of 700 acres of land around the Great Falls, transforming it into a hub for industry and progress in the United States.
Source => nps.gov

10. Ghost of the Garden State's Governor

Some say New Jersey's phantom governor roams the streets looking for his lost namesake: Surprise! William Paterson not only signed the US Constitution and became the second governor of New Jersey, but also has a city (Paterson) and a university (William Paterson University in Wayne) named after him. Yet, his hometown streets remain mysteriously devoid of his moniker.
Source => revolutionarywarnewjersey.com