Born January 14, 1730, in Kittery, Maine, he was the brother of Abraham Whipple, q.v. He commanded a ship before he was 21 and engaged in the European, West Indian, and African trade, bringing many slaves from the latter continent. In 1759 he abandoned the sea and went into business in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with his brother, Joseph. Whipple went on to be elected a delegate to the Continental Congress from in 1775 and served until 1778, declining his reelection. In 1777, Whipple was commissioned brigadier general and commanded a brigade of state troops at the battles of Saratoga and Stillwater. Following Burgoyne’s surrender, Whipple signed the articles of capitulation on behalf of General Gates. He participated in Sullivan’s expedition to R.I. in 1778 and resigned his commission in 1782, but went on to be the state superintendent of finances from 1782-84.

Source:
https://freemasoninformation.com/masonic-education/famous/united-states-masonic-founding-fathers/