Hewes, Joseph (1730-1779), was a North Carolina signer of the Declaration of Independence. He served in the Continental Congress from 1774 to 1777, and in 1779. While in Congress, he became the first executive head of the Continental Navy, though he did not have this official title at that time. He appointed John Paul Jones a Navy officer and provided him with a ship. Hewes was born on Jan. 23, 1730, in Kingston, New Jersey. He died on Nov. 10, 1779.
