FitzSimons, Thomas (1741-1811), was a Pennsylvanian signer of the Constitution of the United States. His name is also spelled Fitzsimmons. At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, FitzSimons favored a strong central government that would have the power to tax imports and exports.
FitzSimons was born in Ireland. By 1760, he had immigrated to Philadelphia, where he soon became a leading merchant specializing in trade with the West Indies. During the Revolutionary War in America (1775-1783), he raised and commanded a company of militia.
FitzSimons served in the Congress of the Confederation in 1782 and 1783. He was later elected to several terms in the Pennsylvania legislature. As a Federalist Party member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1789 to 1795, he supported protective tariffs to promote American manufacturing. FitzSimons was one of the founders of the Bank of North America and the Insurance Company of North America. He lost much of his political influence after personal difficulties caused him to declare bankruptcy in 1805.
