Samuel was a devoted member of the American Philosophical Society and contributed funds to build Philosophical Hall, which can be glimpsed in the right-hand corner of this painting. He acted as the Society’s first vice-president under his friend and cofounder Benjamin Franklin, who can be seen in bas-relief behind him.

Vaughan is depicted here reading the “Constitution of the United States of America” and volumes by Enlightenment thinker John Locke and Unitarian minister, Richard Price. There are also copies of the American Philosophical Society’s Transactions in the lower left corner. ]]>