Imperfect Men

On this episode, Cody and Steve discuss semipro wrestler Henry Laurens, the only American ever held in the Tower of London.Sources·        McDonough, Daniel J. Christopher Gadsen and Henry Laurens: The Parallel Lives of Two American Patriots. Sellinsgrove, Pa.: Susquehanna U. Press, 2000.·        Neville, Gabriel. “The Tragedy of Henry Laurens.” Journal of the American Revolution. 1 Aug 2019. <https://allthingsliberty.com/2019/08/the-tragedy-of-henry-laurens/>. Retrieved 8 Jun 2026.·        Ruppert, Bob. “Henry Laurens’ 15 Months in the Tower.” Journal of the American Revolution. 23 Sep 2015. <https://allthingsliberty.com/2015/09/henry-laurens-15-months-in-the-tower/>. Retrieved 8 Jun 2026.·        Wallace, David Duncan. The Life of Henry Laurens. New York City, NY: G. P. Putnam & Sons, 1915.·        See General Sources page on the website for a list of additional sources

*In best Robert Stack voice:* This week on Imperfect Men: John Lansing, respected public figure and principled opponent of the Constitution, walks out of his hotel to send a letter and is never seen again. Did he fall in the river and accidentally drown, or was he the victim of a vast conspiracy he was trying to uncover?Sources·        Kaminski, John P, ed., et al. The Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution. Charlottesville, VA: U. of Virginia Press, 2009.·        “John Lansing, Jr.” Historical Society of the New York Courts. <https://history.nycourts.gov/figure/john-lansing/>. Retrieved 2 Jun 2026.·        See General Sources page on the website for additional sourcesCredit: "Theme from Unsolved Mysteries" by Michael Boyd and Gary Malkin

On this special episode, Cody and Steve discuss the early celebrations of American Independence Day, the long journey of the Declaration of Independence, and reflect upon some memories from the 4th of July.Sources·        Armitage, David. The Declaration of Independence: A Global History. Cambridge, MA: Harvard U. Press, 2007.·        Heintze, James R. "Fourth of July Celebrations Database." The National Archives. <http://gurukul.american.edu/heintze/fourth.htm>. Retrieved 22 Jun 2026.·        Maier, Pauline. American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence. New York City, NY: Knopf, 1997.·        See General Sources page on website for additional sources

On this episode, Steve and Cody talk about the foundling Din Djar-...er, no, the foundling Edward Langworthy.Sources·        Freeman, Michael. “Edward Langworthy: Rags to Riches Patriot.” Freeman’s Rag. 22 Jun 2022. <https://www.freemansrag.com/historical-ruminations/edward-langworthy-rags-to-riches-patriot>. Retrieved 19 May 2026.·        Konkle, Burton Alva. “Edward Langworthy.” The Georgia Historical Quarterly 11, no. 2 (1927): 166–70. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/40575907>.·        See General Sources page on website for additional sources

On this episode, Cody and Steve talk about John Lansing, the Leonidas of the Revolution (and yes, we mean the 300 Leonidas, not the actual Leonidas).Sources·        Mayo, Lawrence Shaw. John Langdon of New Hampshire. Port Washington, NY: Kennikat Press, 1937.·        Page, Elwin L. “The King’s Powder, 1774.” The New England Quarterly 18, no. 1 (1945): 83–92. <https://doi.org/10.2307/361393>.·        See General Sources page on website for list of additional sources

On this episode, Cody and Steve lament the lack of authentic portraits for state Chief Justices as they discuss the principled Quaker from New Jersey, James Kinsey.Sources·        Smith, Dan. “James Kinsey.” Historic Burlington City, NJ. 1 Mar 1997. <https://burlington1677.blogspot.com/2011/09/james-kinsey.html>. Retrieved 5 May 2026.·        See General Sources page on website for additional sources

On this episode, Steve and Cody discuss the persistent nominee and 18th century doppelganger of Larry Fine, Rufus King.Sources·        Arbena, Joseph L. "Politics or Principle? Rufus King and the Opposition to Slavery, 1785-1825.'' Essex Institute Historical Collections 101 (January 1965): 56-77.·        Ernst, Robert. Rufus King: American Federalist. Chapel Hill, NC: U. of North Carolina Press, 1968.·        Reeser, Robert E. "Rufus King and the Federalist Party.'' Ph.D. dissertation, Los Angeles, CA: U. of California-Los Angeles, 1948.·        See General Sources page on website for additional sources

On this episode, Steve and Cody discuss William Samuel Johnson, the legal genius and educator that guided the final text of the Constitution.Sources·        Groce, Jr., George C. William Samuel Johnson: A Maker of the Constitution. New York City, NY: AMS Press, 1937.·        McCaughey, Elizabeth P. From Loyalist to Founding Father: The Political Odyssey of William Samuel Johnson. New York City, NY: Columbia U. Press, 1980.·        See General Sources page for additional sources

This week's episode keeps us in Maryland and follows up the weirdest signer's name with the blandest signer's name, Thomas Johnson.Sources·        Amt, Emilie. 2018. “Slavery at Rose Hill, Frederick, Maryland.” Research paper, Hood College. <https://emilieamt.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Slavery-at-Rose-Hill-Manor-Frederick.pdf>. Retrieved 3 Mar 2026.·        Delaplaine, Edward. The Life of Thomas Johnson. New York City, NY: Grafton Press, 1927.·        Court Listener. “Georgia v. Brailsford.” <https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/84680/georgia-v-brailsford/>. Retrieved 3 Mar 2026.·        See General Sources page on website for a complete list of sources