American Whig Society

The American Whig Society was born on June 24, 1769, from the remnants of an earlier Princeton student society, the Plain Dealing Club. The name "American Whig" derived from a recent series of essays by a new trustee of the College of New Jersey (Princeton), William Livingston, shortly to become the first governor of New Jersey. It signified adherence to ancient principles of British political and religious dissent. The club served as a major political, debating, and literary force both on the Princeton campus and throughout the nation, where members such as James Madison became future leaders. Merging with its campus rival, the Cliosophic Society, in 1941, the organization became the American Whig-Cliosophic Society.

From the description of American Whig Society archives, 1802-1941. (Princeton University Library). WorldCat record id: 79292232

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