sentences:  At the beginning of the conflicts with the mother country, he espoused the cause of the colonies, and was a signer of the non-importation agreement of the citizens of Philadelphia in 1765.He presided at the meeting of the mechanics and tradesmen of the city held on June 9, 1774, to consider a letter from the artificers of New York, and was a member of the committee to reply to the same.On September 16, 1775, he was appointed muster-master of the Pennsylvania navy, which office he resigned, February 23, 1776, to concentrate on his commercial affairs.