The “Prophet of Independence” was born on June 17, 1742, in Boston, Massachusetts. William Hooper, a son of a minister, was trained to follow in his father’s footsteps. He was enrolled at the preparatory school, Boston Latin School. He qualified in 1757 to attend Harvard College as a sophomore and graduated three years later. He did not, however, enter into a life of religious teaching and ministry. To the displeasure of his father, he pursed the field of law by studying under James Otis, who argued publicly for the protection of colonists’ rights. 

To bring calm to family relations, Mr. Hooper moved to North Carolina in 1764. He found favor with those who live in and around Wilmington. He became a circuit court lawyer for a time and then was elected unanimously recorder of the borough. Around this time, his father died suddenly. He did not inherit a vast sum of money or many acres, but his father’s collection of books and manuscripts. A personal treasure to him. 

In 1767, on August 16th, he married Anne Clark of New Hanover. She was the daughter of Thomas Clark, the late high sheriff of the county. The affluence of the Clark family sustained William Hooper and his family during the trying years of the American Revolution. For the next few years, Mr. Hooper continued serving the public as the deputy attorney general for the king in the Salisbury district court. In 1773, he entered politics when he became the representative for Cambelltown (now Fayetteville) at the colonial assembly. The chief business of the assembly was selecting delegates to the First Continental Congress. Mr. Hooper, John Penn, and Joseph Hewes were selected. 

The delegates trekked to Philadelphia over 450 miles of treacherous roads. (Sickness and injury were common occurrences for such a trip on horseback.) The Congress’ first session was on September 27, 1774, and the delegates were to come with remedies to the colonists’ grievances with the crown. Mr. Hooper was most concerned about colonial rights and less about gaining independence from the crown. At 32 years of age, he was one of the youngest congressional members. Despite his youth, he possessed much wisdom. Earlier in the year, he had written to a friend, “The Colonies are striding fast to independence, and ere long will build an empire upon the ruins of Great Britain; will adopt its Constitution, purged of its impurities, and from an experience of its defects, will guard against those evils which have wasted its vigor.”This omen caused him to be given the name, “Prophet of Independence.”

In Congress, William Hooper sat on several committees and participated regularly to the discussions about the business presently being considered. It is evident his Christian upbringing impacted his committee work for he chaired a committee charged with creating a resolution for a day of prayer and fasting for the colonies. He also participated in floor debates with impressive oration. The first address he gave caused some of his colleagues to utter surprise that one from North Carolina would speak with such force and liveliness. John Adams attested to his skill noting he was amongst the best orators of the body. 

Despite being confident the colonies would separate from England, William Hooper abstained from voting for the resolution for independence on July 2nd. In a letter to John Adams, Thomas Jefferson wrote, some years later when commenting on the North Carolina delegation, Mr. Hooper was the most Tory of his colleagues. Perhaps this influenced his abstention. He also was not present when votes were cast for independence on July 4th. He did, however, sign the Declaration on August 2nd. 

By the close of 1776 and over the course of the past few years, Mr. Hooper’s service to the 13 colonies and North Carolina specifically included attending three Continental Congresses, five provincial congresses, four colonial assemblies, and Wilmington’s safety committee meetings. 

In 1777, Mr. Hooper was experiencing financial difficulties and longed to be near his family. Also, his desire to serve on the continental level had soured. He said, concerning Congress, “I am weary of politics. It is a study that corrupts the human heart, degrades the idea of human nature, and drives men to the expedients that morality must condemn.” 

The war finally came to North Carolina in 1780. Mr. Hooper moved his family from his plantation, Finian, to Wilmington, about eight miles away. In January 1781, the city fell to the British while he was away on business. Mrs. Hooper and two of her children fled the city when their house was burned. Though sick, she traveled to Hillsborough by wagon. Her brother, General Thomas Clark, assisted her in finding shelter. 

William Hooper was separated from his family for more than ten months. He was frequently destitute and relied heavily on friends for food and shelter. At one point, he contracted malaria and had to be nursed back to health by one of his friend’s wives. When the British left the area in November, Mr. Hooper came back to a plantation in ruin and ashes. He joined his family in Hillsborough where they lived for the rest of his life. 

After the war, William Hooper lost the broad support he had enjoyed earlier. He was not inclined to embrace republicanism whole-heartedly like many other North Carolinians. He was also willing to forgive loyalists and his affinity for the aristocracy did not help his cause. Ill health came upon him around 1788 and affected him for close to two years. He died on October 14, 1790.  

William Hooper lived to be 48 years of age.