Changes

== Ancestry ==

== Ancestry ==

His great grandfather was that [[Richard Stockton (emigrant)|Richard Stockton]] who first emigrated to the [[New York]] colony between 1660 and 1670 (or perhaps earlier to what was then known as [[New Netherland]]). The present subject was actually the third bearer of the name Richard Stockton (the second was his grandfather). He was born on [[October 1]], [[1730]] to [[John Stockton]] on the family estate of [[Morven]], near [[Princeton]].<ref name=Lives/>

His great grandfather was that [[Richard Stockton (emigrant)|Richard Stockton]] who first emigrated to the [[New York]] colony between 1660 and 1670 (or perhaps earlier to what was then known as [[New Netherland]]). The present subject was actually the third bearer of the name Richard Stockton (the second was his grandfather). He was born on October 1, 1730, to [[John Stockton]] on the family estate of [[Morven]], near [[Princeton]].<ref name=Lives/>

== Education and Professional Advancement ==

== Education and Professional Advancement ==

Richard Stockton studied for two years at the [[West Nottingham Academy]] in [[Maryland]], under Dr. [[Samuel Finley]].<ref name=Signers>Authors unknown. "[http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/stockton.htm Entry for Richard Stockton]." ''Signers of the Declaration of Independence''. Retrieved June 15, 2007.</ref> He then entered what was then known as the College of New Jersey (the modern [[Princeton University]]).<ref name=Signers/> He graduated in [[1748]] and studied law in [[Newark]] under [[David Ogden]]. In [[1754]] he was admitted to the [[bar]], and in [[1763]] he was granted the degree of [[sergeant at law]], the highest distinction for a lawyer of that era.<ref name=Lives/><ref name=Signers/>

Richard Stockton studied for two years at the [[West Nottingham Academy]] in [[Maryland]], under Dr. [[Samuel Finley]].<ref name=Signers>Authors unknown. "[http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/stockton.htm Entry for Richard Stockton]." ''Signers of the Declaration of Independence''. Retrieved June 15, 2007.</ref> He then entered what was then known as the College of New Jersey (the modern [[Princeton University]]).<ref name=Signers/> He graduated in 1748 and studied law in [[Newark]] under [[David Ogden]]. In 1754 he was admitted to the [[bar]], and in 1763 he was granted the degree of [[sergeant at law]], the highest distinction for a lawyer of that era.<ref name=Lives/><ref name=Signers/>

== 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 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/>

== Continental Congress ==

== Continental Congress ==

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

[[Image:StocktonStatue.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Statue of Richard Stockton at the [[US 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 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/>

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=Signers/><ref name=Lives/>

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=Signers/><ref name=Lives/>

== Imprisonment and Death ==

== Imprisonment and Death ==

Stockton refused an offer of [[amnesty]] based on swearing allegiance to the [[King]]. The British then took Stockton to [[Perth Amboy]], New Jersey, and subjected him to cruel treatment.<ref name=Lives/> The British also destroyed his farm and burned his library, which was one of the best in America. Stockton was later transferred to the Provost [[prison]] in [[New York]].

Stockton refused an offer of [[amnesty]] based on swearing allegiance to the [[King]]. The British then took Stockton to [[Perth Amboy]], New Jersey, and subjected him to cruel treatment.<ref name=Lives/> The British also destroyed his farm and burned his library, which was one of the best in America. Stockton was later transferred to the Provost [[prison]] in [[New York]].

After six weeks of lack of food (including twenty-four hours without feeding) and freezing cold weather in prison in New York, Stockton was finally released, this after the Continental Congress threatened Lord Howe with retaliation against British prisoners. Sadly, his health had already been ruined.<ref name=Lives/> He was, furthermore, penniless, because of both the destruction of his estate and the severe devaluation of the Continental [[currency]]. He also suffered from a [[cancer]] in his neck. On [[February 28]], [[1781]], Richard Stockton died at the age of 51.<ref name=Lives/>

After six weeks of lack of food (including twenty-four hours without feeding) and freezing cold weather in prison in New York, Stockton was finally released, this after the Continental Congress threatened Lord Howe with retaliation against British prisoners. Sadly, his health had already been ruined.<ref name=Lives/> He was, furthermore, penniless, because of both the destruction of his estate and the severe devaluation of the Continental [[currency]]. He also suffered from a [[cancer]] in his neck. On February 28, 1781, Richard Stockton died at the age of 51.<ref name=Lives/>

== Honors ==

== Honors ==

In [[1888]], New Jersey honored Stockton by donating a statue of him to the [[US Capitol]] [[National Statuary Hall Collection]].<ref name=AOC/> Only six signers of the Declaration of Independence are so represented.

In 1888, New Jersey honored Stockton by donating a statue of him to the [[US Capitol]] [[National Statuary Hall Collection]].<ref name=AOC/> Only six signers of the Declaration of Independence are so represented.

In [[November]] of [[1968]], the New Jersey legislature first approved a bond issue, and in [[1969]] it passed legislation to establish a college in his honor, the Richard [[Stockton College]] of New Jersey.<ref name=StocktonColl>Authors Unknown. "[http://president.stockton.edu/history.htm A Brief History of the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey]." Office of the President, [[Stockton College]], 2005. Retrieved June 15, 2007.</ref>

In November of 1968, the New Jersey legislature first approved a bond issue, and in 1969 it passed legislation to establish a college in his honor, the Richard [[Stockton College]] of New Jersey.<ref name=StocktonColl>Authors Unknown. "[http://president.stockton.edu/history.htm A Brief History of the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey]." Office of the President, [[Stockton College]], 2005. Retrieved June 15, 2007.</ref>

The [[New Jersey Turnpike]] Authority also named a service area in his honor.<ref name=NJTP>Authors unknown. "[http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/nj-vcenter-stockton.htm Richard Stockton Service Area]." ''New Jersey Turnpike Authority.'' Retrieved June 15, 2007.</ref>

The [[New Jersey Turnpike]] Authority also named a service area in his honor.<ref name=NJTP>Authors unknown. "[http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/nj-vcenter-stockton.htm Richard Stockton Service Area]." ''New Jersey Turnpike Authority.'' Retrieved June 15, 2007.</ref>