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John Witherspoon
According to an old story, the most fiery and compelling pro-independence speech at the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, came from the Rev. John Witherspoon. It illustrates the patriotic leadership of this Presbyterian minister and the level of respect accorded him by his generation. Unfortunately, Witherspoon is largely forgotten today.
To contemporary observers who sometimes see the War for Independence as a "Presbyterian rebellion," Witherspoon played a key role. He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence — the only clergyman to do so.
He was president of the College of New Jersey (Princeton), which was a "seedbed of sedition." Throughout the Independence conflict Witherspoon was in Congress, and he served on several key committees.
As late as 1778, British leaders considered Witherspoon to be the chief leader of the revolutionary cause. The venerable doctor did speak forcefully for independence.
Tories hated him for his resolute stand. They burned Witherspoon in effigy and scorched him in song. The refrain from one Tory tune was: "I'd rather be a dog than Witherspoon!"
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