Princeton in Mercer County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

John Witherspoon

1723 - 1794

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 17, 2011

1. John Witherspoon Marker

Inscription.

John Witherspoon. Preacher, “One of the most useful qualifications of a good minister is that he have a lively sense of religion upon his own heart.” John Witherspoon. Born in Gifford, Scotland, in 1723, Witherspoon was educated at the University of Edinburgh, completing his divinity studies in 1743. The son of a clergyman, he became pastor of the Presbyterian congregation in Beith and in 1757 was installed at the Laigh Kirk in Paisley. His early writings and reputation as one of the leading scholars within the Popular movement of the church preceded him to the Colonies., His sermons and lectures were both solemn and direct, drawing both on theological principals and on a deep understanding of human nature. He spoke plainly yet profoundly, with eloquence and grace. His popularity as a preacher inspired more than a few of his many students to follow in the ministry. Patriot, “He is as high a Son of Liberty as any Man in America.” John Adams 1774. Witherspoon embraced America from his arrival in Philadelphia and his warm reception in Princeton. As relations with Great Britain strained, he tolerated the growing student unrest at the College and was patient with demonstrations favoring independence even before he became an advocate from the pulpit., With eight other men he formed the Somerset County Committee of Correspondence in 1774 and he was elected to the New Jersey Provincial Congress. In June 1776, he was chosen as one of New Jersey’s delegates to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. He became one of the most forceful proponents of the Declaration of Independence, the only minister and the only college president among the fifty-six signers. He signed the Articles of Confederation and was selected in 1787 to attend the New Jersey ratifying convention for the Constitution. President, “To preside over that College, methinks is a province worthy of an Angel!” Benjamin Rush 1767. After the death of Samuel Finley in 1766, the Trustees of the College of New Jersey sought a new president who could not only lead academically and theologically, but who could also reconcile philosophical divisions in the church. Witherspoon was elected by the Trustees and prevailed upon in formal correspondence in 1767 to “obey the Call” from America. While he deliberated, Benjamin Rush, then a medical student at the University of Edinburgh, and attorney Richard Stockton, then in London on business, paid him personal visits. This was primarily to appeal to his wife, Elizabeth, who eventually consented. They sailed from Greenock on the brig Peggy and arrived with their five children in Philadelphia on August 6, 1768., Once installed as president, Witherspoon proceeded to put the College on a secure financial footing and undertook academic reforms. He introduced the method of teaching by lecture and taught history, moral philosophy, composition and criticism. His students included James Madison and Aaron Burr, twelve cabinet officers, twenty-eight senators, forty-nine congressmen, three justices of the Supreme Court and twelve state governors. He presided over the College until his death, with the increasing assistance after 1779 of his son-in-law, Samuel Stanhope Smith. He died at Tusculum in 1794. [ Dedication Plaque : ]. John Witherspoon – This statue was dedicated on November 10, 2001. It was made in Paisley, Scotland, by Alexander Stoddart and is a duplicate casting of a statue dedicated in Pausley on June 22, 2001. The work was cast at the Morris Singer Foundry in Basingstoke, England. The architect for the plinth was T. Jeffery Clarke AIA of Princeton, New Jersey.

Preacher

“One of the most useful qualifications of a good minister is that he have a lively sense of religion upon his own heart.”
John Witherspoon
Born in Gifford, Scotland, in 1723, Witherspoon was educated at the University of Edinburgh, completing his divinity studies in 1743. The son of a clergyman, he became pastor of the Presbyterian congregation in Beith and in 1757 was installed at the Laigh Kirk in Paisley. His early writings and reputation as one of the leading scholars within the Popular movement of the church preceded him to the Colonies.

His sermons and lectures were both solemn and direct, drawing both on theological principals and on a deep understanding of human nature. He spoke plainly yet profoundly, with eloquence and grace. His popularity as a preacher inspired more than a few of his many students to follow in the ministry.
Patriot

“He is as high a Son of Liberty as any Man in America.”
John Adams 1774
Witherspoon embraced America from his arrival in Philadelphia and his warm reception in Princeton. As relations with Great Britain strained, he tolerated the growing student unrest at the College and was patient with demonstrations favoring independence even before he became an advocate

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from the pulpit.

With eight other men he formed the Somerset County Committee of Correspondence in 1774 and he was elected to the New Jersey Provincial Congress. In June 1776, he was chosen as one of New Jersey’s delegates to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. He became one of the most forceful proponents of the Declaration of Independence, the only minister and the only college president among the fifty-six signers. He signed the Articles of Confederation and was selected in 1787 to attend the New Jersey ratifying convention for the Constitution.
President

“To preside over that College, methinks is a province worthy of an Angel!”
Benjamin Rush 1767
After the death of Samuel Finley in 1766, the Trustees of the College of New Jersey sought a new president who could not only lead academically and theologically, but who could also reconcile philosophical divisions in the church. Witherspoon was elected by the Trustees and prevailed upon in formal correspondence in 1767 to “obey the Call” from America. While he deliberated, Benjamin Rush, then a medical student at the University of Edinburgh, and attorney Richard Stockton, then in London on business, paid him personal visits. This was primarily to appeal to his wife, Elizabeth, who eventually consented. They sailed from Greenock on the brig

Marker on Right of Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 17, 2011

2. Marker on Right of Monument

Peggy and arrived with their five children in Philadelphia on August 6, 1768.

Once installed as president, Witherspoon proceeded to put the College on a secure financial footing and undertook academic reforms. He introduced the method of teaching by lecture and taught history, moral philosophy, composition and criticism. His students included James Madison and Aaron Burr, twelve cabinet officers, twenty-eight senators, forty-nine congressmen, three justices of the Supreme Court and twelve state governors. He presided over the College until his death, with the increasing assistance after 1779 of his son-in-law, Samuel Stanhope Smith. He died at Tusculum in 1794.
[ Dedication Plaque : ]John Witherspoon – This statue was dedicated on November 10, 2001. It was made in Paisley, Scotland, by Alexander Stoddart and is a duplicate casting of a statue dedicated in Pausley on June 22, 2001. The work was cast at the Morris Singer Foundry in Basingstoke, England. The architect for the plinth was T. Jeffery Clarke AIA of Princeton, New Jersey.

Erected 2001.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it

Marker on Left of Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 17, 2011

3. Marker on Left of Monument

is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #02 John Adams, the Former U.S. Presidents: #04 James Madison, and the Signers of the Declaration of Independence series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1776.

Location. 40° 20.936′ N, 74° 39.453′ W. Marker is in Princeton, New Jersey, in Mercer County. Marker can be reached from Nassau Street, on the right when traveling east. Marker is on the grounds of Princeton University, in firestone plaza, north of Nassau Hall. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Princeton NJ 08542, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Joseph Henry House (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Princeton University (about 500 feet away); Princeton Speech (about 500 feet away); Nassau Hall (about 500 feet away); Bainbridge House (about 500 feet away); Washington’s Route from Princeton to Morristown (about 500 feet away); 250th Anniversary of Princeton University (about 600 feet away); Reunion Hall (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Princeton.

Also see . . . John Witherspoon. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on November 21, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Marker on Rear of Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 17, 2011

4. Marker on Rear of Monument

Dedication Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 17, 2011

5. Dedication Plaque

John Witherspoon Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 17, 2011

6. John Witherspoon Statue

John Witherspoon at Princeton University image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 17, 2011

7. John Witherspoon at Princeton University

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 17, 2011

8. John Witherspoon Statue

Closeup of John Witherspoon image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 17, 2011

9. Closeup of John Witherspoon

Credits. This page was last revised on November 21, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,022 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on July 21, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.