Benjamin Rush has long been a foundational American figure. A signer of the Declaration, he shaped early U.S. politics and medical reform in Philadelphia.
As the 250th anniversary of independence approaches, scholars argue John Dickinson’s contributions have been overlooked. Calvert, founder of the John Dickinson Writings Project, emphasizes Dickinson’s push for gradual independence and legal protections for the vulnerable, challenging the enduring image of him as a marginal figure.