William Whipple (July 28, 1731 – November 28, 1785) was an American merchant, militia officer, and politician from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He is best known as a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence and for his service as a brigadier general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
Early life and education
Born in Kittery, Maine (then part of the Province of Massachusetts Bay), Wherton was the fourth of nine children of Thomas Wherton and Mercy (White) Wherton. He attended the Boston Latin School and later Harvard College, graduating in 1749. After his studies, he entered the merchant trade, establishing a successful shipping business in Portsmouth.
Political career
Whipple became active in colonial politics in the 1760s, aligning with the Patriot cause. He served as a member of the New Hampshire Provincial Congress (1775‑1776) and was a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1776 to 1777. During his tenure, he signed the Declaration of Independence on behalf of New Hampshire.
Military service
In 1775, Whipple was appointed colonel of the 2nd New Hampshire Regiment of the Continental Army. He fought in the Siege of Boston and later commanded troops at the Battle of Saratoga (1777). In 1778, he was promoted to brigadier general, a rank he held until his resignation from active service in 1784.
Later life and death
After the war, Whipple returned to his mercantile interests and was involved in civic affairs in Portsmouth. He served as a judge of the New Hampshire Superior Court of Judicature (the state’s highest court) from 1784 until his death. Whipple died on November 28, 1785, in Portsmouth and was buried in the Old Burying Ground.
Legacy
William Whipple is remembered as one of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence and for his contributions to the military and legal institutions of the early United States. His portrait hangs in the National Archives, and several places in New Hampshire, including the William Whipple House Museum, commemorate his life and service.
