John Witherspoon
American Founding Father and minister (1723–1794) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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John Witherspoon (February 5, 1723 – November 15, 1794) was a Scottish-American Presbyterian minister, educator, farmer, slaveholder, and a Founding Father of the United States.[1] Witherspoon embraced the concepts of Scottish common sense realism, and while president of the College of New Jersey (1768–1794; now Princeton University) became an influential figure in the development of the United States' national character. Politically active, Witherspoon was a delegate from New Jersey to the Second Continental Congress and a signatory to the July 4, 1776, Declaration of Independence. He was the only active clergyman and the only college president to sign the Declaration.[2] Later, he signed the Articles of Confederation and supported ratification of the Constitution of the United States.
John Witherspoon | |
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6th President of Princeton University | |
In office 1768–1794 | |
Preceded by | John Blair (acting) |
Succeeded by | Samuel Stanhope Smith |
Personal details | |
Born | (1723-02-05)February 5, 1723 Yester, Gifford, East Lothian, Scotland |
Died | November 15, 1794(1794-11-15) (aged 71) Tusculum, Princeton, New Jersey, U.S. |
Resting place | Princeton Cemetery |
Nationality | American/Scottish |
Education | University of Edinburgh (MA) |
Occupation | Clergyman and theologian |
Signature | |
In 1789 he was convening moderator of the First General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.