But in the final installment of the “Meet the Founders” series at Washington College, historian Richard Beeman will offer a surprising portrait of the man he describes as America’s “essential founding father,” a leader often buffeted by the storms of public opinion and political opposition in America’s rambunctious young democracy. Beeman’s talk will take place on Wednesday, November 14, at 5:30 p.m. in Decker Theatre, Gibson Center for the Arts, on the College campus, 300 Washington Avenue, and will be followed by a book signing. It is hosted by Washington College’s C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, where Beeman is a senior fellow.