Among all the nurseries of early society that of the sailor appeared least likely to qualify an individual for the duties of statesmanship.  A knowledge of navigation was all that was required in an educational way.  The ocean was his home; the beauties of philosophy and the art of government were little known and deemed unnecessary of acquirement.  Yet we find William Whipple the exception to the rule.  Brought up a cabin boy on his father’s boat, we see him with but one ambition in youth-to inscribe his name as commander of a ship’s crew.  Reaching this eminence, he was not satisfied.  He became a patriot and later on forsook the water to be a general under Washington, and afterward varied his life by officiating as Judge of the Supreme Court of his state.   As a delegate to Congress he was one of the very first to lend aid to the movement for independence.  Few men climbed the scale of society more rapidly or worthily, and the memory of none should be longer cherished than that of William Whipple.