Neil explores Reese's past
History boffin Neil Oliver has set out to prove the link between Hollywood star Reese Witherspoon and an ancestor who was once a humble Scottish minister.
The broadcaster and archaeologist will be digging up the facts on the Legally Blonde actress, 33, and her connection to John Witherspoon, who became a champion of American independence.
The presenter and a film crew flew out to America yesterday for the BBC2 series A History of Scotland, which will tell the stories of Scots who turned to the colonies and the Empire.
Among them was Witherspoon, who left in 1768 to become Principal of the renowned Princeton College in New Jersey. He became the leading churchman of his time advocating independence and was among those to witness the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Reese is thought to be a descendant of the Scots minister through his only grandson, born in 1790 and also named John.
Oliver says: “The story of John Witherspoon is amazing but he is one of a number of Scots who forged America and indeed the wider British Empire to feature in our series.”
neil explores reese’s past
A History of Scotland will return to BBC2 in November.
