FOR SALE: RARE JOHN WITHERSPOON (PRINCETON) USPS 1ST DAY COVER POSTAL CARD-- MINT $3
Dave Morris
Second longest-serving president of Princeton University-- and the only
Ivy League president for whom the United States issued a postal card.
Scott Catalog # UX69 € First Day of Issue November 10, 1975
PERFECT MINT CONDITION
Further Information about this issue:
Nearly half the fifty-six men who signed the Declaration of
Independence were lawyers; among the remainder were merchants,
planters, and physicians. But only one was a minister of religion: John
Witherspoon, then in his fifty-fourth year. He was also the fifth
president of Princeton University-- and the one who built it into a
national university. In addition, largely because of him, Princeton
became known as the "seedbed" of the revolution.
Born near Edinburgh, Scotland, he emigrated to this country in 1768,
shortly becoming President of the College of New Jersey, today's
Princeton University. Under his astute leadership the college thrived;
its enrollment grew, its facilities increased in numbers, and
endowments flourished. Serving as a delegate to the Continental
Congress between 1776 and 1782, one of his first speeches in that
assembly strongly endorsed adoption of the now-famous Declaration. He
claimed America was "not only ripe for the measure but in danger of
rotting for the want of it."
Noted as a 'common sense' statesman, this learned scholar, who counted
James Madison (1751-1836) among his pupils, later voted to ratify the
United States Constitution while a member of the New Jersey convention.
Having provided great leadership for his adopted country, for his
beloved college, and for the Presbyterian faith, he died in 1794 and is
buried in the President's Lot at Princeton.
YOURS FOR ONLY $3.00 plus 85 cents shipping & handling in the U.S. I
will ship internationally for slightly higher rates.
Please contact hiredavemorris(at)earthlink.net (Replace the (at) with
the appropriate symbol.)