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A lawyer of Elizabethtown (now Elizabeth), N.J., Elias Boudinot took an active part in anti-British activities and earned considerable fame as a patriot during the American Revolution. He was a member of the Continental Congress both before and after the adoption of the Articles of Confederation and served as its president from 1782 to 1783. He ardently supported the U.S. Constitution and helped secure its ratification by New Jersey. He served in Congress (1789-95) and was appointed by Washington as director of the U.S. mint (1795-1805). He was an ardent philanthropist, notably for the Native Americans.
Upon his retirement from politics, Boudinot, the great-grandson of a French Huguenot who fled to America after the revocation of the edict of Nantes in search of religious liberty, spearheaded the formation of local Bible Societies throughout the new nation. His efforts led to the establishment of the American Bible Society in New York City in May 1816. The ABS's founders elected him the Society's first President.
Boudinot had an ample fortune, and gave liberally. He was interested in attempts to educate the Indians, and when three Cherokee youth were brought to the foreign mission school in 1818, he allowed one of them to take his name. Dr. Boudinot was also interested in the instruction of deaf-mutes, the education of young men for the ministry, and efforts for the relief of the poor.
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