John Witherspoon

John Witherspoon ( born February 5, 1723 in Gifford, Scotland, † November 15, 1794 at Princeton, New Jersey) was a Scottish Presbyterian, after immigrating to America Dean of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1776 and one of the signer of the Declaration of Independence of the United States.

Life

Witherspoon was born at Gifford, Haddingtonshire. He attended the Haddington Grammar School, studied at the University of Edinburgh and in 1739 received the title of Master of Arts. In 1768 he emigrated to New Jersey, where he was elected President of the College of New Jersey. He was a deputy in the Continental Congress.

In November 1778 the buildings of the College of New Jersey were destroyed by the British. After the War of Independence Witherspoon organized reconstruction. In 1792 he went blind.

John Witherspoon is a direct ancestor of the U.S. actress Reese Witherspoon.