Witherspoon, John (1723–1794)

British protestant clergyman and member of the Continental Congress. A firm supporter of the colonies in the dispute with Britain, he was the only clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence. Not widely known as a ‘founding father’, he played an influential role in establishing several major US institutions

Born in Gifford, Scotland, and educated at the University of Edinburgh, he served two Scottish parishes before emigrating to the USA in 1768 to become president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton). During his long tenure (until 1794) he greatly strengthened both the college and the American Presbyterian Church. He served in the Continental Congress (1776–82) and, after the American Revolution, in the New Jersey legislature.