Commentary
James Madison was the individual with the most influence on the framing (writing) of the Constitution. Some authors rate James Wilson second.
I don’t agree with the latter assessment. Wilson’s impact at the Constitutional Convention, while significant, is overrated. But his contribution during the ratification debates (1787–1790) was exceptional.
Personal Life
James Wilson was born on Sept. 14, 1742 in the county of Fife, in Scotland. He was the fourth of seven children. His parents were farmers of modest means, but “Jimmy’s” exceptional talent encouraged them to strain their finances to provide him with the opportunities he deserved.
Wilson won a scholarship to the nearby College of St. Andrews—now the University of St. Andrews. He withdrew without a degree after his father died and the family could no longer support him. Some have claimed that Wilson also attended college in Edinburgh and/or Glasgow, but those claims are unverified….