John Wentworth Jr. (July 17, 1745 – January 10, 1787) was aFounding Father of the United States and a lawyer who served as a New Hampshire delegate to theContinental Congress, where he signed theArticles of Confederation.
Wentworth was born toJudge John Wentworth inSomersworth, New Hampshire, in 1745, and was a descendant of ElderWilliam Wentworth. He graduated fromHarvard in 1768 before studying law. He moved toDover, New Hampshire, where he started his practice.Governor John Wentworth, his cousin, appointed him the probate register forStrafford County, and he held that post until his death.
Wentworth was active in the various revolutionary committees, and was elected to the convention (later the State Assembly) from Dover every year from 1776 to 1780. He was a member of the state council, supportingMeshech Weare, from 1780 to 1784, and was a member of theNew Hampshire Committee of Safety. That committee operated as the revolutionary government when the Assembly was not in session.
In 1778 and 1779, he was selected as one of the delegates to theContinental Congress. His term of service gave him the chance to sign theArticles of Confederation when the Congress passed that plan to unify the colonies. As the state established a more stable government, he was elected to theNew Hampshire Senate from 1784 to 1786. He died in Dover and is buried in thePine Hill Cemetery there.[1]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
