WIP · World in Pocket

Doctor John Witherspoon

Washington, Italy

Doctor John Witherspoon

Doctor John Witherspoon is a bronze sculpture and granite pedestal which depicts John Witherspoon, a Presbyterian minister, member of Congress, and signer of the United States Declaration of Independence. Born in Scotland, Witherspoon immigrated to the U.S. in the 1760s and later became president of

the College of New Jersey, later renamed Princeton University. He strongly supported the Thirteen Colonies in their fight to gain freedom from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. He served as the only clergyman in the Second Continental Congress during the American Revolutionary War. In 1792, Witherspoon lost his eyesight after an infection and died two years later. It was not until over 100 years later that plans were made to erect a statue of Witherspoon in Washington, D.C. Members of the Church of the Covenant (now known as National Presbyterian Church) and other Presbyterians formed the Witherspoon Memorial Association in 1907. After raising enough funds for the memorial, they lobbied members of Congress for permission to erect the memorial on public land. The joint resolution passed in 1908. By that time, sculptor William Couper had begun working on the statue. The following...

Listen to the audio guide for Doctor John Witherspoon Free on WIP — starts by itself when you arrive, even with the screen off

Nearby