Joseph Hewes, a native of Princeton, New Jersey, received his education from Princeton College. In 1760, he established a shipping business in Wilmington, North Carolina and became very successful. Hewes was elected to the Provincial Assembly in 1766 and remained a member until it was dissolved by the royal governor in 1775. During his tenure, he was appointed to the Committee of Correspondence and later elected to the Provincial Legislature. In 1775, he was sent to the Continental Congress where he was a hard-working committee member and an expert on maritime issues. Hewes played a crucial role in the American Revolution by signing the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and offering his ships for the Continental Armed Forces. In 1779, he served as the Secretary of the Naval Affairs Committee for Congress.
