John Witherspoon:

The signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence for New Jersey, John Witherspoon was born on February 15, 1723. He was the eldest child of James Alexander Witherspoon and Anne Walker. 

He studied in Haddington Grammar School and earned his Master of Arts from the University of Edinburgh in 1739. He was also the sixth president of the small Presbyterian College of New Jersey, later known as Princeton University.

He married with Elizabeth Montgomery after becoming a Church of Scotland minister at Beith, Ayrshire. He had ten children from his relations with Elizabeth Montgomery. Out of 10 children only 5 survived to adulthood.

He was against the Jacobite rising of 1745-46. After the Jacobite victory he was imprisoned and it greatly affects his health.

In 1792 he turned blind due to some eyes injuries. He died just outside of Princeton on his own farms Tusculum. He died at the age of 71 in 1794.

He was a great supporter of revolution came to join it in 1774. In 1776 he was elected in Continental Congress as part of the New Jersey delegation. In July 1976 he voted in favor of Resolution of independence.
He served congress from 1776 to 1782 as a most influential member. In 1778 after British forces neared, he evacuated the College of New Jersey.

His personal notes were also destroyed as main building of Nassau Hall was badly damaged and he had to face personal as well as financial difficulties in rebuilding it after the war.