- March 6, 1809, 217 years ago — Death of Thomas Heyward Jr..
- March 6, 1724, 302 years ago — Birth of Henry Laurens, President of the Continental Congress.
- March 7, 1707, 319 years ago — Birth of Stephen Hopkins, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
- March 7, 1699, 327 years ago — Birth of Susanna Boylston Adams, mother of John Adams.
John Witherspoon
WITHERSPOON, John, signer of the Declaration of Independence, born in Gifford, Scotland, 5 February, 1723; died in Princeton, N.J., 15 November, 1794.
He was educated at the University of Edinburgh and became a Presbyterian minister. Witherspoon emigrated to America in 1768 to become president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton), where he revitalized its curriculum and influence.
He was elected to the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence. Witherspoon advocated for liberty grounded in moral and religious principles and trained many future leaders.
A theologian, educator, and patriot, Witherspoon’s legacy bridges faith and republicanism in the founding era.
Source:
Wilson, James Grant, and John Fiske, eds. Appleton’s Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1887. Patriot Echoes Archive
Founders:
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