Martin, David (1696-1751)

Rector of the Academy of Philadelphia.

Sheriff of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. (1736); first marshall of Trenton (1745). Also farmed and operated a ferry on the Delaware (from 1739). Early member of American Philosophical Society (1744). First rector of Academy of Philadelphia (1750-51); taught Latin and Greek. Franklin’s “principal Antagonist at Chess.” Richard Peters described him as “a perfect good scholar, and a man of good temper.”

Son of Joseph and Sarah (Trotter) Martin of Piscataway, New Jersey. Married Elizabeth Doty (1714); three daughters.