David Redick

Biography

Redick was born in Ireland, and after coming to America made his home for several years in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Redick was a veteran of the American Revolutionary War. He read law and was admitted to the bar in 1782.

Family

He married the niece of business associate David Hoge. Redick and his wife had at least three children. A son became a lawyer and died at a young age. His daughter, Nancy, and her husband inherited the Redick home in Washington and lived there until their own deaths. Another daughter married and settled in Louisville, Kentucky.

Career

Redick accompanied Hoge (c. 1780) to survey the latter's land holdings in the Chartiers Valley, in western Pennsylvania. Under Hoge's direction he platted the town of Bassett Town, which was soon renamed Washington, Pennsylvania. At that time, Washington County was in the process of being established, and Hoge apparently wanted to establish a town that could serve as the new county's center of government. Redick purchased a lot on the town's main street and lived there until his death.

Public service

Redick was elected to represent Washington County on the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania in 1786. He was elected Vice-President of the Council (a position analogous to Lieutenant Governor) on 14 October 1788, following the resignation of Peter Muhlenberg, and served until the next regular election, 5 November 1788, when he was succeeded by George Ross. His was the second-shortest tenure as Vice-President, and the third-shortest of any Pennsylvania Governor or Lieutenant Governor. Although his time in office was brief he was the first statewide officer from Pennsylvania's western frontier. All of the Presidents of Pennsylvania had been elected to Council from either the City or County of Philadelphia, and the other Vice-Presidents had represented counties of southeastern Pennsylvania, none farther west than York. The county Redick represented hadn't even existed when the Supreme Executive Council was established less than twelve years earlier.

Perhaps due to his abilities as a surveyor, in 1787 Redick was appointed an agent for the Commonwealth for communicating with the Governor of New York regarding Connecticut's claims to land in Pennsylvania. He was a member of Pennsylvania's 1790 Constitutional Convention and was a signer of the new charter. In 1791 he became prothonotary and clerk of courts of Washington County.

During his brief period as Vice-President of Pennsylvania Redick was an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania.

Whiskey Rebellion

Redick was involved in the Whiskey Rebellion—not on the side of the rebels but, rather, "in defense of law, order, and the constitution." With William Findley, he presented the document representing the rebels' surrender to President Washington and Alexander Hamilton in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in October 1794.

Death

David Redick died on 28 September 1805 in Washington, Pennsylvania. He was buried with Masonic honors. His grave site is in the Old Washington Cemetery in downtown Washington.