John Witherspoon
John Witherspoon was born in the parish of Yester near Edinburgh, Scotland, on February 5, 1722. He was a lineal descendant of John Knox, the celebrated reformer. The father of John was a minister of Yester parish and molded the mind of this son in the ways of wisdom, virtue, and science. At an early age, he attended the Haddington School. He soared above the trifling allurements that too often lead childhood and youth astray. His studies were his chief delight. He exhibited a maturity of judgment, clearness of perception, and depth of thought seldom manifested in juvenile life. He entered Edinburgh University at the age of fourteen and fully realized the anticipations of his friends in his educational advancement. Especially did he excel in theology. He passed the ordeal of his final examination at the age of twenty-one and was licensed to proclaim the glad tidings of the Gospel of Peace to his fellow men. He immediately became the assistant of his revered father; a favorite among their parishioners; an eloquent preacher of plain practical Christianity.Battle of Falkirk
On January 17, 1746, Witherspoon was a "looker-on in Vienna" at the battle of Falkirk and, with many others whose curiosity had led them to the scene of action, was seized by the victorious rebels and imprisoned in the castle of Doune. After his release, he resided a few years at Beith, subsequently at Paisley, rendering himself very useful as an exemplary and faithful minister. While living at the latter place, Witherspoon received urgent calls from Dublin, Rotterdam, and Dundee. On November 19, 1766, he filled the College of New Jersey Presidential Chair.A very wealthy bachelor relative offered to will him his large estate if he would remain. For a year, he declined the proffered chair. She became anxious to embark on the new world, removing every obstacle with the ingenuity and perseverance peculiar to women when bent upon accomplishing a noble object. On December 9, 1767, Mr. Stockton had the pleasure of communicating his acceptance to the trustees of the college.
Witherspoon was a Convention of New Jersey member that framed the new Constitution in 1776. On June 20 of the same year, he was a member of the Continental Congress and most ably and eloquently advocated the Declaration of Independence, to which he affixed his name, appealing to his God for approval to the world for the justice of the cause he espoused. He continued as a member of Congress up to 1782.
Witherspoon was a member of the secret committee of Congress, whose duties were delicate and arduous. He was a member of the committee to co-operate with General Washington in replenishing and regulating the Army of the committee of finance and several other working committees. The eloquent appeals to the people from Congress, recommending days for fasting and prayer, were from his nervous pen. The burning and melting manifesto, protesting against the inhuman treatment of the American prisoners confined on board the filthy prison ships in New York, was supposed to emanate from him.
Dr. Witherspoon was prophetic in his reasoning when pointing out the results of propositions laid before Congress and opposed all those he believed would terminate unfavorably. He strongly remonstrated against the issue of continental money.
Witherspoon resigned his seat in Congress in 1779 due to his health. His son-in-law, Rev. Dr. Smith, was Vice President of the College and relieved him from the most arduous duties of President. The following year, he was again elected to Congress and resigned in 1782. The college trustees then persuaded him to embark for Europe to raise funds for the institution. As he predicted before he left, his efforts were unsuccessful. He returned in 1784 and retired to his country seat a mile from Princeton to enjoy the blessings of peace and the golden fruits earned by years of peril and toil. Surrounded by relatives and friends, enjoying the praise and gratitude of a nation of freemen; his name immortalized as a scholar, divine, civilian, statesman, and patriot; he sat down under the bright canopy of a clear conscience; an approving Heaven, anticipating a crown of unfading glory beyond the skies.
Witherspoon died November 15, 1794.