Signer Series - John Witherspoon

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 and virtue were inseparable. As tensions with Britain escalated, he emerged as a powerful advocate for independence, arguing that resistance to tyranny was not only politically necessary but morally justified. In 1776, he represented New Jersey in the Continental Congress, voted for independence, and signed the Declaration of Independence, making him the only clergyman to do so.

Beyond his signature, Witherspoon’s influence ran through generations. As an educator, he taught and mentored future leaders of the new nation, including James Madison, helping shape American political philosophy from the classroom and the Congress floor.

After independence, Witherspoon continued to serve the young republic, contributing to New Jersey’s state government and supporting the ratification of the Constitution. He died in 1794, leaving behind a legacy rooted in faith, education, and the conviction that ideas, taught well and defended bravely, can change the course of history.