Fugitive Slave Act of 1793

About the Author

Congressional bills rarely have a single author. They are usually drafted by committee and then amended numerous times on the legislative floor before being adopted. Such was the case with the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793. The five senators who served on the committee that drafted the bill that was ultimately passed were George Cabot (1752–1823), Massachusetts; George Read (1733–1798), Delaware; Samuel Johnston (1733–1816), North Carolina; Roger Sherman (1721–1793), Connecticut; and John Taylor (1753–1824), Virginia. At this early stage in congressional history, members were not identified by party affiliation.