John Witherspoon represented New Jersey at the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence.
John Witherspoon was President and head professor of the small Presbyterian College of New Jersey in Princeton, later known as Princeton University. Although he first abstained from political concerns, he came to support the revolutionary cause. In 1776. he was elected to the Continental Congress, where he voted in favor of R.H. Lee’s Resolution for Independence, and shortly thereafter voted for the Declaration of Independence. He soon became one of the most influential members of Congress and served on over 100 committees, most notably the powerful standing committees, the board of war and the committee on secret correspondence or foreign affairs. He spoke often in debate and helped draft the Articles of Confederation. He also served twice in the New Jersey Legislature, and strongly supported the adoption of the United States Constitution during the New Jersey ratification debates.