Changes

== Pre-Revolutionary Career ==

== Pre-Revolutionary Career ==

In June of 1766 he sailed to [[London]], [[England]]. He stayed in England for fifteen months. During that time he sought and obtained much "patronage" for the College of New Jersey. He was also, for a week, a guest of the [[Marquis of Rockingham]] ([[Prime Minister]] of England between Lords [[Lord Grenville|Grenville]] and [[Lord North|North]]). He was granted the "freedom of the city" in [[Edinburgh]], [[Scotland]]. There he first met Dr. [[John Witherspoon]], who later became a resident of New Jersey himself.<ref name=Lives/>

In June 1766 he sailed to [[London]], [[England]]. He stayed in England for fifteen months. During that time he sought and obtained much "patronage" for the College of New Jersey. He was also, for a week, a guest of the [[Marquis of Rockingham]] ([[Prime Minister]] of England between Lords [[Lord Grenville|Grenville]] and [[Lord North|North]]). He was granted the "freedom of the city" in [[Edinburgh]], [[Scotland]]. There he first met Dr. [[John Witherspoon]], who later became a resident of New Jersey himself.<ref name=Lives/>

== Continental Congress ==

== Continental Congress ==

[[Image:StocktonStatue.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Statue of Richard Stockton at the [[U. S. Capitol]]]]

[[Image:StocktonStatue.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Statue of Richard Stockton at the [[U. S. Capitol]]]]

In September of 1767 he returned to New Jersey, where in 1768 he became a member of the [[Royal Executive Council]] of that colony.<ref name=Lives/><ref name=Signers/><ref name=AOC>Authors unknown. "[http://www.aoc.gov/cc/art/nsh/stockton.cfm Entry for Richard Stockton]." ''Architect of the Capitol'', 2007. Retrieved June 15, 2007.</ref> Stockton once refused, in writing, to serve as a public official "till I am convinced that by neglecting my own affairs I am doing more acceptable Service to God and Man."<ref name=AOC/> Nevertheless, in 1774 he was made a Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey.<ref name=AOC/> Also in that year, he drafted and set to [[Lord Dartmouth]] a plan for making America a semi-autonomous polity, "independent of [[Parliament]], without renouncing allegiance to the Crown."<ref name=AOC/>

In September 1767 he returned to New Jersey, where in 1768 he became a member of the [[Royal Executive Council]] of that colony.<ref name=Lives/><ref name=Signers/><ref name=AOC>Authors unknown. "[http://www.aoc.gov/cc/art/nsh/stockton.cfm Entry for Richard Stockton]." ''Architect of the Capitol'', 2007. Retrieved June 15, 2007.</ref> Stockton once refused, in writing, to serve as a public official "till I am convinced that by neglecting my own affairs I am doing more acceptable Service to God and Man."<ref name=AOC/> Nevertheless, in 1774 he was made a Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey.<ref name=AOC/> Also in that year, he drafted and set to [[Lord Dartmouth]] a plan for making America a semi-autonomous polity, "independent of [[Parliament]], without renouncing allegiance to the Crown."<ref name=AOC/>

Eventually, however, the intractability of the situation between America and Britain would alter his stance. In 1776 he was elected as a [[delegate]] to the [[Continental Congress]].<ref name=Lives/><ref name=Signers/><ref name=AOC/> He arrived in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], in time to participate in the debate over the [[Declaration of Independence]]. At first he was not disposed to sign the Declaration, though he and Witherspoon had strict instructions to vote for independence.<ref name=Signers/> But [[John Adams]] persuaded him to sign with his eloquence.<ref name=Lives/>

Eventually, however, the intractability of the situation between America and Britain would alter his stance. In 1776 he was elected as a [[delegate]] to the [[Continental Congress]].<ref name=Lives/><ref name=Signers/><ref name=AOC/> He arrived in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], in time to participate in the debate over the [[Declaration of Independence]]. At first he was not disposed to sign the Declaration, though he and Witherspoon had strict instructions to vote for independence.<ref name=Signers/> But [[John Adams]] persuaded him to sign with his eloquence.<ref name=Lives/>

== Betrayal and Capture ==

== Betrayal and Capture ==

In September of 1776 he was re-elected to Congress, and was detailed on a fact-finding mission to the Army of the North, then under the command of General Schuyler.<ref name=Lives/><ref name=Signers/> After returning from that mission, he had to hurry to get his family to safety after General [[George Washington|Washington]] was defeated in New York and had to run from [[Lord Howe]] across New Jersey. He managed to get his family to safety,<ref name=Signers/> but on November 30, 1776, American loyalists betrayed Stockton, captured him in the middle of the night, and turned him over to the British.<ref name=Lives/><ref name=Signers/>

In September 1776 he was re-elected to Congress, and was detailed on a fact-finding mission to the Army of the North, then under the command of General Schuyler.<ref name=Lives/><ref name=Signers/> After returning from that mission, he had to hurry to get his family to safety after General [[George Washington|Washington]] was defeated in New York and had to run from [[Lord Howe]] across New Jersey. He managed to get his family to safety,<ref name=Signers/> but on November 30, 1776, American loyalists betrayed Stockton, captured him in the middle of the night, and turned him over to the British.<ref name=Lives/><ref name=Signers/>

== Imprisonment and Death ==

== Imprisonment and Death ==