John Witherspoon

John Witherspoon was a Scottish-American Presbyterian minister, educator, farmer, slaveholder, and a Founding Father of the United States. Witherspoon embraced the concepts of Scottish common sense realism, and while president of the College of New Jersey became an influential figure in the development of the United States' national character. Politically active, Witherspoon was a delegate from New Jersey to the Second Continental Congress and a signatory to the July 4, 1776, Declaration of Independence. He was the only active clergyman and the only college president to sign the Declaration. Later, he signed the Articles of Confederation and supported ratification of the Constitution of the United States.

5 February 1723

Born on the same birth day (5 February): Brian Russell • Douglas Hogg • Gheorghe Hagi • Grażyna Bacewicz • H. R. Giger • Henfil • Hristu Cândroveanu • Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck • Keith Moseley • Laura Linney • Luc Ferrari • Nabil Bahoui • Quique Sánchez Flores • Vladimir Moskovkin

Born in the same month (February 1723): John Burgoyne • Richard Price • Tobias Mayer