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History and Government—Congressional Biographies—New JerseyJohn WITHERSPOON
(1723-1794)
WITHERSPOON, John, a
Delegate from New Jersey; born in Gifford, Haddingtonshire,
Scotland, February 5, 1723; completed preparatory studies; was
graduated from Edinburgh University in 1739; studied theology at
Edinburgh; was licensed in 1743 and ordained minister of the parish
of Beith in 1745; was the author of various religious pamphlets;
installed pastor at Paisley June 16, 1757; moderator of the synod
of Glasgow and Ayr in 1758; became president of the College of New
Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1768; member of the committee
on correspondence from Somerset County July 28, 1775; member of the
Provincial Congress of New Jersey from June 10 to June 22, 1776;
Member of the Continental Congress from 1776-1782; a signer of the
Declaration of Independence; member of the secret committee of the
Congress on the conduct of the war and member of the board of war
in 1778; member of the State council in 1780; drafted the
instructions of June 1781 to the American peace commissioners;
served in the State general assembly in 1783 and 1789; member of
the State ratification convention in 1787; after the war returned
to Princeton, where he continued his duties as president; died on
his farm near Princeton, N.J., November 15, 1794; interment in the
Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, N.J.
Bibliography
Collins, Varnum Lansing. President Witherspoon, A Biography.
2 vols. Princeton: Princeton University, 1925.
Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present
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