Witherspoon, John - Timeline Biography
Time Period
02-05-1723 - 11-15-1794
Description
John Witherspoon was a Scottish-American Presbyterian minister and educator. After serving as a pastor for two separate parishes in Scotland (Beith, 1745-1757; Paisley, 1757-1768), he accepted an invitation to serve as president of the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University. As president, he helped to grow the college by expanding the curriculum and increasing both the college’s endowment as well as the enrollment. Through his efforts, he trained students to become strong religious leaders and brought his Scottish philosophy to mainstream American thought. The American Presbyterian Church greatly benefitted from these efforts as well as his involvement in establishing the church’s General Assembly (1789).
Witherspoon also was politically active and influential during America’s founding period. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress (1776-1782), a member of the New Jersey state legislature (1783, 1789), and the only clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence.
Witherspoon also was politically active and influential during America’s founding period. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress (1776-1782), a member of the New Jersey state legislature (1783, 1789), and the only clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence.
Interactive Timeline(s)
Browse Related Timeline Entries
Religious Groups
Presbyterian-Reformed Family: Other ARDA LinksPresbyterian-Reformed Family: Religious Family Tree
Events
First General Assembly of the PCUSARelated Dictionary Terms
Presbyterian-Reformed FamilyPhotographs
John Witherspoon portrait- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; partial gift of Mrs. Samuel Matthews
John Witherspoon statue- Internet Archive- from Witherspoon by William P. Breed
John Witherspoon statue- Library of Congress, LC-DIG-npcc-30425
Book/Journal Source(s)
Reid, Daniel, Robert Linder, Bruce Shelley, and Harry Stout, 1990. Dictionary of Christianity in America Downers Grove, IL.Web Source(s)
https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-WitherspoonJohn Witherspoon's Biography
Web Page Contributor
Benjamin T. GurrentzAffliated with: Pennsylvania State University, Ph.D. in Sociology
