He was an American leader, lawyer, and statesman. He is most noted for his contributions as a delegate at the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention. William Houston served as a professor and as a leader in political meetings going down in history as a man who played an instrumental role in various political positions.

Born in South Carolina to parents who had emigrated from Ireland, 1746 was the year of William Houston’s birth. He went to the College of New Jersey which is known today as Princeton.

Houston took on a professor position at the College of New Jersey and began teaching. He would have his career interrupted when The Revolution began. When The Revolution started, the British decided to occupy Princeton so the college officials had no other choice but to send the students home and close the doors to educational services.

William Houston joined the militia during the time that the school was closed. He would later return to teach when the college reopened for educational purposes.

William Houston was known for his opinion on slavery. While he supposedly did not believe in slavery, he wasn’t opposed to owning slaves.

William would resign from teaching and go on to work in congress. Houston’s work while he was in congress was primarily geared toward the handling of finances and supplies. He would go on to study law and would take the bar in 1781. His legal career took off in 1783, five years before his death.

In 1786, he was commissioned to work on an important project. He was supposed to study the defects in the Articles of Confederation. While he would go on to attend the Constitutional Convention, Houston’s time there would be limited because of his failing health. In 1788, William Houston died of tuberculosis complications.