American Quotations by William J. Federer 2024

John Witherspoon (February 5, 1723-November 15, 1794) was an American Revolutionary patriot and clergyman. Born in Scotland, being a descendant of John Knox on his mother's side, John Witherspoon's influence as an educator was widely felt in America. He signed the Declaration of Independence and was a member of the Continental Congress. He was a primary proponent of separation of powers insisting on inclusions to check and balance the power of government. He served on over 120 Congressional committees, including: the Board of War, the Committee on Secret Correspondence, or Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Clothing for the Army. As...

Samuel Langdon (January 12, 1723-November 29, 1797) was the president of Harvard 1774-1781. He was pastor of the Church in Hampton Falls and a member of the New Hampshire Convention which ratified the U.S. Constitution in 1788. He was an original member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The Great Awakening preacher, George Whitefield spoke at Harvard in 1740, the same year that Samuel Langdon, and his classmate, Samuel Adams, graduated. The Governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Jonathan Belcher (1682-1757), was also an Overseer of Harvard College. Later, John Hancock was instrumental in having Samuel Langon chosen as...

Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706-April 17, 1790) was an American printer, writer, scientist, philosopher and statesmen. Born to a poor candle-maker in Boston, Massachusetts, he was 15th of 17 children. Since his family could not afford to provide him with a formal education, he began apprenticing as a printer at the age of twelve. In 1723, he moved to Philadelphia and married Deborah Read, by whom he had two children. He initially gained literary acclaim through the annual publication of his book, Poor Richard's Almanac (1732-57). At the age of forty-two he was successful enough to retire and devote himself to...

Virginia House of Burgesses (1705) ordinance of Williamsburg: <If a person brought up in the Christian religion denies the being of a God, or the Trinity, or asserts there are more Gods than one, or denies the Christian religion to be true, or the Scriptures to be of Divine authority, he is punishable on the first offense by incapacity to hold any office of employment, ecclesiastical, civil or military; on the second by disability to sue, to take any gift or legacy, to be guardian, executor, or administrator, and by three years' imprisonment without bail.> 1705VA001 -- American Quotations by William...

Francis Alison (1705-November 28, 1779) was an educator in colonial America. He was described by Yale President Ezra Stiles as: <The greatest classical scholar in America, especially in Greek.> 1705FA001 On May 27, 1759, in a letter to Ezra Stiles, the future president of Yale, Francis Alison gave his support to a proposal written by Yale's then current president, Thomas Clap, recommending a uniform plan of education for the colonial colleges. He stated: <Euclid's elements and algebra...should be taught the classes statedly and carefully, and moral philosophy should be a business of greater care and closer application than is now the...