William Whipple, Jr. (14 Jan 1730-28 Nov 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 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. He was married his first cousin Katherine Moffat some time around 1770 to 1771. 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. He was buried in the Old North Burial Ground in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and his headstone was replaced by a local historical association in conjunction with the American Bicentennial in 1976.
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