John Wise (clergyman)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John Wise (August 1652 – April 8, 1725) was a Congregationalist reverend and political leader in Massachusetts during the American colonial period. Wise was noted for his political activism, specifically his protests against British taxation, for which he was once jailed. As the pastor of the Chebacco Parish from 1680 to his death in 1725, Wise lived in Ipswich, Massachusetts, often called "the birthplace of American independence."

[edit] Biography

Wise was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, the son of Joseph Wise. Records show that he was baptized on August 15, 1652.

He attended the Roxbury Latin School, in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, graduating in 1669. He then was admitted to Harvard College (now Harvard University). After graduating from Harvard in 1673, he began studying theology, and preached in at Branford, Connecticut and Hatfield, Massachusetts. On August 12, 1683, Wise was ordained as the pastor of the newly organized Chebacco Parish, a new parish formed out of Ipswich.

In 1688, Wise led Ipswich citizens in a protest against colonial taxation.

John Wise Avenue, a section of Route 133 in Massachusetts, is named after him. Liberty ship SS John Wise, launched on June 14, 1942 and scrapped in 1971, was also named after him.

George Allan Cook wrote a biography of John Wise entitled "JOHN WISE : EARLY AMERICAN DEMOCRAT" (copyright 1952) & Reprinted 1966 by Octagon Books.