In the 18th century, several of our rectors had ring-side seats in national affairs:

• The Rev. Aenas Ross (rector 17421758) was the father-in-law of Betsy Ross, who made the first "Stars and Stripes", and the brother of George Ross, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
• The Rev. Dr. William Smith (rector 1766-1779, 1791-1798) founded what is now the University of Pennsylvania.
• After Independence, Trinity played a role in the new Protestant Episcopal Church. In 1784 Mr. Benjamin Cottman represented Trinity at a meeting with the Rev. William White to organize the Diocese of Pennsylvania. Trinity was admitted into Convention in 1786. The Rev. John Hobart (rector 1798-1801 became Bishop of New York and founded Hobart College.

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