Background
William was born to Joseph Shippen (1679 –1741, son of Edward Shippen, governor of Pennsylvania) and Abigail Grosse Shippen (1677–1716) at Philadelphia. His father was a prominent merchant.
physician Continental congressman
William was born to Joseph Shippen (1679 –1741, son of Edward Shippen, governor of Pennsylvania) and Abigail Grosse Shippen (1677–1716) at Philadelphia. His father was a prominent merchant.
Studied medicine.
He was also a civic and educational leader who represented Pennsylvania in the Continental Congress. He built a large practice in Philadelphia. He joined Benjamin Franklin and other civic leaders to found the Public Academy in 1749 and served as one of its trustees.
When it merged with another school to become the College of Philadelphia, he served as a trustee of the college from 1755 to 1779.
The College is now the University of Pennsylvania. William"s brother, Edward Shippen III (1703–1781, grandfather of Peggy Shippen) was one of the founders of Princeton University, for which William served as a trustee from 1765 to 1796.
The Pennsylvania Assembly chose Shippen as a delegate to the Continental Congress on November 20, 1778. He represented his state during congressional sessions in 1779 and 1780, after which he returned to his medical practice.
William remained active well into his eighties.
Member American Philosophical Member Continental Congress from Pennsylvania