Richard Stockton, born on October 1, 1730, was an American lawyer, jurist, and statesman from New Jersey. A graduate of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), he became a prominent attorney and served as a trustee of the college. Stockton was elected to the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. During the Revolutionary War, he was captured by British forces, imprisoned, and harshly treated, which severely damaged his health. After his release, he returned to New Jersey but never fully recovered. He died in 1781 at the age of 50.