Rev. John Witherspoon

Rev. John Witherspoon
1723-1794

Born: February 23, 1723 at Gifford in East Lothian and became a parish priest in Beith. Graduated University of Edinburgh in 1742.

1745 to 1746
Took part in the Highlander's revolt in support of Bonnie Prince Charlie and was captured by the British.

1768
Arrived in America

1776 to 1782
Delegate from New Jersey to Continental Congress.

1776 - July 4th
Voted for the Declaration of Independence.

1776 - August 2nd
Signed Declaration of Independence. Was the only ordained clergyman to sign the Declaration and his ideas were influential in founding, from the outset, religious pluralism in the American nation.

1768 to 1794
President of the College of New Jersey (later to become Princeton University).

Witherspoon became totally blind in 1792 and died two years later, but his ideas gave America great vision.

Died: November 15, 1794 in Princeton, NJ