John Witherspoon

Devin Owen
MSMU Class of 2026

(7/2025) Independence Day. What do you think of when you hear that? Do you think of the barbeques, swimming at the pool, day drinking and the beach? Maybe you think of days spent with family, relaxing at home and playing board games or going outside and throwing a football around. Maybe you’re like me and you’re expecting to be working on Independence Day—personally, I expect to be working the entire holiday weekend—and are either dreading it, or excited for the opportunities being brought forth. Do you ever stop to think of what led to the holiday? The efforts that went into bringing about our freedom and separation from Great Britain’s rule. Where would we be now without those efforts, specifically, where would we be without those who made those efforts?

We all celebrate America’s freedom in different ways, but it’s important that we don’t forget why we really celebrate this holiday and what it means. Granted, we weren’t there and can’t know what exactly happened, but we can take time to educate ourselves on the history and remind ourselves how important the signing of the Declaration of Independence was. As we do every July, the News-Journal is here to educate on the history of this period and shed light on those who signed the Declaration, many of whom we have forgotten or just simply don’t know.

That said, I am here to introduce you to John Witherspoon, a Declaration signer for the state of New Jersey. John Witherspoon was the only clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence, but his life was so much more interesting than that singular moment.

Witherspoon was not an American native. Instead, he was born in Yester, Scotland on February 5th in either the 1722 or 1723—depending on if you look at the Julian or Gregorian calendar—to James Witherspoon and Anna Walker. His mother, Anna, came from a long line of clergymen extending back to John Knox, a well-known leader for the Scottish Reformation in 1546, and his father was a minister himself; so it is safe to say that it’s "in his blood". Witherspoon was incredibly well educated; having first been taught by his mother, he learned to read at age four, reading from the Bible and eventually being able to recite a majority of the New Testament. By age thirteen he was sent to University at Edinburgh and completed a four-year degree in only three and earned his Master of Arts degree, while petitioning to publish his thesis by the end of the year 1738. He was only fifteen years old at this point—an incredible accomplishment at such a young age. Just after his sixteenth birthday in 1739, Witherspoon was awarded his Master of Arts with a thesis in Latin, De Mentes Immortalities, signed by Johannes Wederspan.

Witherspoon is most well-known for his time as the President of what is now Princeton University. Following the completion of his degree, Witherspoon was recruited by the trustees of the College of New Jersey to become President following the death of the previous President, Samuel Finley. Amongst said recruiters was Benjamin Rush and Richard Stockton, both who would also go on to sign the Declaration of Independence, who went as far as travelling to Scotland to personally request Witherspoon’s presence. The institution flourished under the direction of President John Witherspoon; with him growing the endowment fund, instituting circular changes and having patched up a major schism in the Presbyterian church. He is considered to be one of the greatest Presidents of Princeton University to this day.

Witherspoon was a crucial advocate to the American cause. In the years 1774-75, he represented his county in the New Jersey Provincial Assembly, where he successfully agitated for the removal and imprisonment of the Royal Governor and received appointment to the Continental Congress, which he stayed with until 1782. Within his years on the Continental Congress, he aided in the reorganization of the Board of Treasury, drafted a letter of thanks to Lafayette, the credentials, and instructors for Ben Franklin as minister plenipotentiary, and designed seals for the Treasury and Navy department. He also was part of the ratifying convention that led to New Jersey having the honor of being 3rd to ratify the US Constitution. During the period of war, Witherspoon even went as far as advocating resistance to the crown in a commencement speech at the University. With war though comes destruction and chaos, which led to Witherspoon closing down the College once the war entered the New Jersey territory in 1776. During this period, the British occupied the college; the burned its library, burned many of Witherspoon’s papers and left things a complete and utter mess. He never gave up on it though; come 1778, Witherspoon had the College of New Jersey back up and running again with classes resuming in November of that year. By 1789, Witherspoon had returned to the New Jersey assembly with the responsibility of setting priorities of business, which included the following: the body shall deal with the treatment of prisoners, pensions of invalids, public debts, promotion of religion and mortality, divorce, paper money, establishment of records of viral statistics and encouragement of manufacturing. Witherspoon also chaired a committee concerned with the abolition of slavery in New Jersey, even though he was a slaveholder himself.

Witherspoon was more than just his accomplishments though. He was a son, a father, a brother, and a husband. John was one of six children, although he lost a brother in the West Indies. Witherspoon was a father to eleven children total, but only six of them made it to adulthood. On September 2nd, 1748, he married Elizabeth Montgomery. Together they had nine children, however, only five survived to adulthood and made the journey to North America from Scotland. In October 1789, Elizabeth died suddenly and unexpectedly at age 68. Two years after his wife’s death, Witherspoon remarried 24-year-old Ann Marshall Dill. The two had two children together, sadly though, one of these children died nine days after birth.

Witherspoon lived a long and full life, filled with numerous accomplishments to be remembered by. He died in his Princeton home, "Tusculum", on November 15th 1794, at age 71. I’ll end with this: take the time to enjoy your holiday this summer, but don’t forget why you have it at your disposal. Take a moment to remember those who signed the document of America’s freedom.