William Whipple

William Whipple, Jr. ( January 14 , 1730 – November 28 , 1785 ), was a signer of the United States Declaration Of Independence as a representative of New Hampshire .

William Whipple was born at Kittery, Maine , and educated at a common school until his early teens, when he went off to sea. He became a Ship's Master by the age of twenty-three. In 1759 he landed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire , and in partnership with his brother, established himself as a Merchant .

In 1775 he was elected to represent his town at the Provincial Congress . In 1776 New Hampshire dissolved the Royal government and reorganized with a House of Representatives and an Executive Council. Whipple became a Council member, and a member of the Committee Of Safety , and was elected to the Continental Congress , serving there through 1779 .

In 1777 he was made Brigadier General of the New Hampshire Militia , participating in the successful expedition against General Burgoyne at the battles of Stillwater and Saratoga raising and commanding a brigade ( 9th , 10th , 13th and 16th ) of New Hampshire milita during the campaign.

After the war he became an Associate Justice of the Superior Court of New Hampshire. He suffered from a heart ailment and he died by fainting from atop his horse while traveling his court circuit.

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William Whipple