Editing Caleb Strong (section)

==Early years==
Caleb Strong was born on January 9, 1745, in Northampton, one of the principal towns of [[Hampshire County, Massachusetts|Hampshire County]] on the [[Connecticut River]] in the [[Province of Massachusetts Bay]].  His parents were Phebe Lyman Strong and Caleb Strong, the latter a descendant of early Massachusetts settlers such as [[John Strong (colonist)|John Strong]], a 1630 immigrant to Massachusetts who was one of the founders of Northampton and the lead elder of the church for many years.<ref name=Trumbull594>Trumbull, p. 594.</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Dwight|first=Benjamin W.|title=The History of the Descendants of Elder John Strong of Northampton Massachusetts|year=1871|url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924092508682}}</ref> Caleb was their only son. He received his early education from Rev. Samuel Moody and entered [[Harvard College]] in 1760, graduating four years later with high honors. He was shortly thereafter afflicted with [[smallpox]], which temporarily blinded him and prevented him from engaging in the study of law for several years. He studied law with [[Joseph Hawley (Massachusetts politician)|Joseph Hawley]], was admitted to the bar in 1772, and began the practice of law in Northampton.<ref name=Trumbull594/> Hawley was also a political mentor, shaping Strong's views on relations between the [[Thirteen Colonies|Colonies]] and Great Britain.<ref>Lodge, p. 293.</ref>