The Story of Charles Thomson and the Declaration of Independence

PRONI is delighted to welcome you to the launch of the children’s book, The Story of Charles Thomson and the Declaration of Independence, by Philip Johnston. Charles Thomson from Maghera, Co Derry~Londonderry, was one of the most significant Founding Fathers in American history. He was the only Secretary of the Continental Congress (forerunner to United States Congress), one of only two signatories on the first printed Declaration of Independence, the co-designer of the Great Seal of the United States and published the first English translation of the Greek Septuagint version of the Old Testament. In April 1789, Thomson was sent by the Senate to the home of George Washington in Virginia to notify him that he had been elected president of the United States. Despite his immense contribution, Thomson’s legacy has since largely been forgotten in the modern-day public consciousness.

Philip Johnson is a teacher of children with Special Educational Needs who developed a love for writing and illustrating during Lockdown. Recalling stories from his childhood, one of which was a character known as Daft Eddie, lockdown afforded Philip the time to get creative. It led to a vision of creating a children's book, celebrating a young hero, Daft Eddie, who had become forgotten and lost to the passage of time. This turned into an exciting adventure of exploring the world around County Down and the rich cultural heritage it possessed, which soon became a family venture, exploring places and translating it all into a children's book: The Tale o' Daft Eddie an' the Smugglers o' Strangford Lough. Following on the success of this book, Philip’s love for story-telling and illustrating took him in a new direction: celebrating and showcasing forgotten stories and characters, who made an exciting and valuable contribution to the world around them in their day!

Philip came across the story of Charles Thomson quite by chance, having learned about him on the radio. This led to another passionate journey of both story-telling and illustrating. It is hoped that this latest book will restore Thomson’s lost voice to the public consciousness

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