[[File:Josephhewes.jpg|right|200px|thumb| Joseph Hewes]]
[[File:Josephhewes.jpg|right|200px|thumb| Joseph Hewes]]
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'''Joseph Hewes''' (b. January 23, 1730; d. November 10, 1779) was a patriot from North carolina and a [[Founding Father]] of the United States. He was a wealthy merchant with the most to lose in the [[American Revolution]]. Hewes was a man of integrity and honor. He bristled with confidence and esteem helping the [[Whigs]] overthrow the royal government. A member of the Colonial Assembly, he signed the [[Declaration of Independence]] as a [[North Carolina]] delegate to the [[Continental Congress]]. He worked directly with General [[George Washington]] to defend the colonies and became the defacto first [[Secretary of the Navy]].
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'''Joseph Hewes''' (b. January 23, 1730; d. November 10, 1779) was a patriot from North Carolina and a [[Founding Father]] of the United States. He was a wealthy merchant with the most to lose in the [[American Revolution]]. Hewes was a man of integrity and honor. He bristled with confidence and esteem helping the [[Whigs]] overthrow the royal government. A member of the Colonial Assembly, he signed the [[Declaration of Independence]] as a [[North Carolina]] delegate to the [[Continental Congress]]. He worked directly with General [[George Washington]] to defend the colonies and became the defacto first [[Secretary of the Navy]].