Thomas Dongan - Poughkeepsie, New York
Posted by: 
Vermontish
N 41° 42.480 W 073° 56.109
18T E 588590 N 4617903
Enlightened New York Governor
Waymark Code: WMCXT7
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 10/24/2011
Views: 7
Roughly life-size granite portrait statue of Thomas Dongan. Period clothing of the late 17th century includes a long coat with large cuffs, knee-length trousers and a scarf tied in a bow. He holds an open scroll in his right hand which reads "Charter of Liberties." He holds a sword in his left hand.
Thomas Dongan (1634 – 1715), Second Earl of Limerick, was Royal Governor of the Province of New York 1683 - 1687. His significance to the province and to the structure of the United States is described in the inscription in the base:
|
One of the greatest constructive statesmen ever sent to any English colony. The assembly which he created passed an act known as "The Charter of Liberties and Privileges" which assumed the sovereignty of the people and proclaimed religious liberty, the right of suffrage, trial by jury and no taxation without the consent of the assembly. Dongan's charter was the Magna Charta of American constitutional liberty. Many of its principles are embedded in the structure of our federal government.
|
The statue was dedicated in June of 1930 by New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt.