Rev. John Witherspoon Writings and Biography

Witherspoon, Rev. John; 1723-1794; educator, statesman, church leader; came to America from Scotland in 1768 by invitation to be head of Princeton College, then a Presbyterian institution; an outspoken advocate of cause of "Liberty and Independence;" member of the 2nd Continental Congress, 1776, and signed Declaration of Independence; served in Congress until 1782; at Princeton 1782-1794; member of legislature of N.J., 1783, and of 1787 Convention in N.J. which ratified U.S. Constitution; in 1789 became Moderator of first General Assembly of Presbyterian Church.

Biographical data courtesy of The American Ideal of 1776: 12 Basic American Principles.