Liberty Lives Here: Stories of Courage and Patriotism #3
Liberty Lives Here!
is a yearlong blog series celebrating 250 years of American liberty. Every two weeks, throughout 2026, we will be sharing stories of men and women whose lives helped shape the nation we call home. Some are well known. Others are easy to overlook. Each story invites us to slow down, look closely, and remember that liberty has always been built through faith, courage, and everyday faithfulness.
John Witherspoon
As we continue the Liberty Lives Here: Stories of Courage and Patriotism series, we turn to a man whose influence reached far beyond a single moment or document. His work shaped minds, strengthened convictions, and helped prepare a generation for the responsibilities of independence. His name was John Witherspoon.
John Witherspoon was born in 1723 in Scotland, where he grew up in a pastor’s home. Faith, discipline, and learning were part of daily life. Books and sermons filled his early years, and education was treated as a serious calling. From a young age, Witherspoon learned that ideas mattered and that clear thinking shaped how people lived and led.
As a young man, he studied theology and became a Presbyterian minister. He was known for careful preaching and strong reasoning. His work centered on teaching, writing, and guiding congregations. For many years, his life followed a steady path in Scotland, shaped by church leadership and scholarship.
In 1768, Witherspoon accepted an invitation that would change the course of his life. He traveled across the Atlantic to become president of the College of New Jersey, the school we now know as Princeton University. At the time, the college was small and struggling. Witherspoon took on the challenge with purpose and resolve.
At the college, Witherspoon strengthened academic standards and reshaped the curriculum. He believed students should learn how to think clearly, speak carefully, and reason responsibly. His classroom emphasized discipline and moral judgment. Education, in his view, prepared students for service and leadership.
Many of Witherspoon’s students would later take part in shaping the new nation. One of them was James Madison. Through his teaching, Witherspoon influenced future leaders long before he entered public office himself.
As tensions grew between the American colonies and Great Britain, Witherspoon paid close attention. He believed public life mattered and that faith informed responsibility. In 1776, he preached a sermon reminding listeners that God’s providence governed events, even in uncertain and dangerous times. His words offered steadiness when fear and anger threatened to overwhelm careful judgment.
Later that year, John Witherspoon became a delegate from New Jersey to the Continental Congress. Among lawyers, merchants, and landowners, he stood out as both a pastor and an educator. When the Declaration of Independence was presented, Witherspoon supported it and signed his name. He was the only clergyman to do so.
Signing the Declaration carried real risk. Those who signed placed their lives, property, and families in danger. Witherspoon understood the cost and accepted it.
The Revolutionary War brought hardship to many, including Witherspoon. The College of New Jersey closed as fighting moved through the region. Nassau Hall, the college’s main building, suffered damage during the conflict. John Witherspoon’s teaching paused, but his leadership continued. He remained active in Congress, working through the daily responsibilities of wartime government.
He served on committees, helped guide decisions, and supported cooperation among the states. This work required patience and perseverance. Victory depended on battles fought in the field, and it also depended on leaders willing to do the careful work of planning and governance.
After independence was secured, Witherspoon returned his attention to education and public service. He believed the work of building a nation continued long after the war ended. Strong institutions, informed citizens, and moral responsibility remained essential.
John Witherspoon served as president of the College of New Jersey until his death in 1794. His legacy includes his service in Congress, his signature on the Declaration of Independence, and the students he helped prepare for leadership.
His story reminds us that the American founding was shaped by teachers and pastors as well as soldiers and statesmen. It was shaped by people who believed ideas mattered and who worked faithfully in the places where they were called to serve.
John Witherspoon’s influence grew through classrooms, sermons, and steady public service. His life shows how learning, faith, and responsibility can shape the course of a nation.
And that is a story worth remembering.
From Miss A. Liberty…
I liked sitting near John Witherspoon’s books. They were big, serious books, but he treated them like old friends. He trusted God with his work and took his time choosing his words. I noticed he taught patiently and never hurried important ideas. Watching him reminded me that courage can look like learning carefully, speaking kindly, and doing your work well, even when it feels a little uncertain.
This interactive activity packet is designed to help families connect more deeply with the Liberty Lives Here blog series. Through hands-on activities, thoughtful discussion prompts, and creative learning, children explore the lives of Americans whose stories shaped our nation. Each packet encourages families to read together, talk together, and reflect on how faith, character, and everyday choices have played a lasting part in the story of American liberty.
