John Witherspoon

Born in Gifford, Scotland, in 1723, John Witherspoon studied at the University of Edinburgh, completed his divinity studies in 1743, served Presbyterian congregations in Beith and at the Laigh Kirk in Paisley, and became known in the church’s Popular movement before coming to America. His sermons and lectures were solemn, direct, and eloquent, grounded in theological principles and a deep understanding of human nature, and his popularity as a preacher led many students toward the ministry. After Samuel Finley’s death in 1766, the College of New Jersey chose him as president, and after accepting the call he sailed from Greenock on the brig Peggy and arrived in Philadelphia with his wife Elizabeth and their five children on August 6, 1768. As president, he strengthened the College financially, introduced teaching by lecture, taught history, moral philosophy, composition, and criticism, and educated students including James Madison and Aaron Burr as well as future cabinet officers, senators, congressmen, Supreme Court justices, and governors. Embracing America from his arrival, he tolerated early student demonstrations favoring independence, joined the Somerset County Committee of Correspondence in 1774, served in the New Jersey Provincial Congress, and in June 1776 became one of New Jersey’s delegates to the Continental Congress. He was a forceful supporter of the Declaration of Independence, the only minister and only college president among the fifty-six signers, also signed the Articles of Confederation, attended New Jersey’s 1787 ratifying convention for the Constitution, continued to preside over the College with increasing help after 1779 from his son-in-law Samuel Stanhope Smith, and died at Tusculum in 1794.

Princeton, New Jersey · United States