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Witherspoon was born in Gifford, East Lothian, [[Scotland]] in February 1722. At the age of fourteen he attended the University of Edinburgh, and when he was twenty-one he followed in his father's footsteps and became a [[Church of Scotland]] minister.
Witherspoon was born in Gifford, East Lothian, [[Scotland]] in February 1722. At the age of fourteen he attended the University of Edinburgh, and when he was twenty-one he followed in his father's footsteps and became a [[Church of Scotland]] minister.
Witherspoon wrote an acclaimed theological series while installed as pastor, first at Beith, Ayrshire, and then as minister of the ''Laigh Kirk'' ("Low Church") in [[Paisley]]. In 1766, he declined his election to the presidency of the [[Princeton College]] in the American Colonies because his wife, Elizabeth Montgomery, was reluctant to leave [[Scotland]]. However, due to the influence of friends, the family decided to move to the Colonies to accept the job offer in August 1768.<ref>http://etcweb.princeton.edu/CampusWWW/Companion/witherspoon_john.html</ref>
Witherspoon wrote an acclaimed theological series while installed as pastor, first at Beith, Ayrshire, and then as minister of the ''Laigh Kirk'' ("Low Church") in [[Paisley]]. In 1766, he declined his election to the presidency of the [[Princeton University|College of New Jersey (now University)]] in the American Colonies because his wife, Elizabeth Montgomery, was reluctant to leave [[Scotland]]. However, due to the influence of friends, the family decided to move to the Colonies to accept the job offer in August 1768.<ref>http://etcweb.princeton.edu/CampusWWW/Companion/witherspoon_john.html</ref>
He was inaugurated to the position of president of Princeton Collage in 1774, and contributed a significant amount of books to the university's library. One of Witherspoon's greatest contributions during his tenure as president was his endeavor to unite the [[Presbyterian Church]] in [[America]].
He was inaugurated to the position of president of Princeton Collage in 1774, and contributed a significant amount of books to the university's library. One of Witherspoon's greatest contributions during his tenure as president was his endeavor to unite the [[Presbyterian Church]] in [[America]].
[[Category: Founding Fathers]]
[[Category: Founding Fathers]]
[[Category:Religion and Politics]]
[[Category:Religion and Politics]]
[[Category:Presbyterians]]