The History Dame Archive

Abraham Clark | Champion of the Common Man | Born February 15, 1726 Born in Elizabethtown (now Elizabeth), New Jersey, Abraham Clark grew up with physical limitations that kept him from heavy farm labor, but not from learning. With little formal schooling, he taught himself surveying and law, developing a talent for mathematics and a deep sense of justice. Clark became known as “the poor man’s counselor,” offering legal advice to those who couldn’t afford it and gaining the t

John Witherspoon | Voice of Liberty | Born February 5, 1723 Born in Scotland and educated at the University of Edinburgh, John Witherspoon was a Presbyterian minister and scholar long before he became a revolutionary. In 1768, he crossed the Atlantic to become president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), where he reshaped the institution into a leading center for both classical education and revolutionary thought. Witherspoon believed deeply that liberty

William Whipple | Soldier for Liberty | Born January 25, 1730 Born in Kittery (now Maine), William Whipple started life on the water, becoming a ship’s captain by age 21 and later a successful merchant in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. His early seafaring career gave him firsthand experience in colonial trade and shaped his deep connection to the economic and political issues of his time. As tensions with Britain grew, Whipple turned toward public service. By 1775, he was a leadi

John Hancock | First Signer of the Declaration | Born January 23, 1737 Born in Braintree, Massachusetts, John Hancock used his wealth and education to champion colonial rights long before July 4, 1776. Graduating from Harvard at just 17, he became one of the colonies’ wealthiest men after inheriting his uncle’s mercantile fortune, a platform he would later leverage for the cause of independence. As President of the Continental Congress, Hancock’s name became legendary, so muc

Robert Morris | Financier of the Revolution | Born January 20, 1734 Robert Morris, a Philadelphia merchant born in England, used his extraordinary financial talents to support the Revolutionary cause. One of the wealthiest men in America, he not only signed the Declaration, but also the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution, a rare trifecta shared with few others. Called the “Financier of the Revolution” for the vital role he played in securing supplies, credit, and

Richard Henry Lee | The Voice for Independence| Born January 20, 1732 Richard Henry Lee of Virginia was the man who formally proposed that the colonies declare their independence from Britain, a motion that set the stage for July 4, 1776. A skilled orator and longtime public servant, Lee was also president of the Continental Congress and later served as a U.S. Senator. Remembered for: the “Lee Resolution,” the spark that ignited formal separation from British rule.

Benjamin Franklin | Printer & Diplomat | Born January 17, 1706 Arguably the most famous American of his era, Franklin was a printer, inventor, writer, and statesman. Born in Boston, he built a life in Philadelphia, where his wisdom and leadership made him a pivotal figure in the Revolution. At 70, he was the oldest delegate at the Second Continental Congress and served on the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration. Global impact: Franklin later secured crucial French

Philip Livingston | Merchant & Statesman | Born January 15, 1716 Philip Livingston came from a powerful New York merchant family and used his influence and wealth to support colonial rights. Educated at Yale and immersed in business, he served in the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration despite New York’s initial hesitation. Beyond the signature, Livingston helped shape early New York politics and supported institutions such as the New York Chamber of Commerce and

Benjamin Rush | Revolutionary Physician & Educator | Born January 4, 1746 Dr. Benjamin Rush wasn’t just a signer; he was one of the only physicians on the Committee who signed the Declaration. A gifted doctor, he studied in Europe and brought cutting-edge medical knowledge back to Philadelphia. Rush served as Surgeon General of the Continental Army and later became a leading voice in medical education, public health, and humane psychiatric care. He was also Treasurer of the U