Profile of the Day: John Witherspoon

Are you related to a Founder Father of the United States? On this day in 1723, John Witherspoon was born in Gifford, Scotland. A strong advocate for colonial independence, Witherspoon was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Image: John Witherspoon / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, CC0

The eldest child of the Reverend James Alexander Witherspoon and Anne Walker, Witherspoon was a minister in the Church of Scotland before immigrating to the colonies. He was recruited to become the first president of the College of New Jersey, now known as Princeton University.

A vocal supporter of independence, Witherspoon was elected to the Continental Congress in 1776. He was the only member of the clergy to sign the Declaration of Independence and became an influential voice of the American Revolution. He later signed the Articles of Confederation and supported the ratification of the Constitution. James Madison, who is often called the “Father of the Constitution,” was one of Witherspoon’s students at Princeton.

How are you related to John Witherspoon? Explore his family tree and share your connection to the Founding Father.

View John Witherspoon’s Geni Profile