William Pennington
| William Pennington | |
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| In office February 1, 1860 – July 4, 1861 |
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| Preceded by | James L. Orr |
| Succeeded by | Galusha A. Grow |
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| In office October 27, 1837 – October 27, 1843 |
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| Preceded by | Philemon Dickerson |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Haines |
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| Born | May 4 1796 Newark, New Jersey |
| Died | February 16 1862 (aged 65) Newark, New Jersey |
| Political party | Whig, Republican |
William Pennington (May 4, 1796 – February 16, 1862) was an American Whig Party and early Democratic-Republican Party politician and lawyer, the 13th Governor of New Jersey, and Speaker of the House during his one term in Congress.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, he graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1813 and then studied law with Theodore Frelinghuysen. He was admitted to the bar in 1817 and served as a clerk of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (where his father was a judge) from 1817 to 1826.
As a member of the Whig party, he was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1828, and then was elected Governor of New Jersey annually from 1837 to 1843. His tenure as governor was marked by the "Broad Seal War" controversy. Following a disputed election for Congressional Representatives in New Jersey, Pennington certified the election of five Whig candidates while five Democrats were certified by the Democratic Secretary of State. After a lengthy dispute, the Democrats were eventually seated.
He was appointed Governor of Minnesota Territory by President Millard Fillmore, but declined to accept the position.
He was elected as a Republican to the 36th Congress to represent New Jersey's 5th congressional district. During his first (and only) term, he was elected Speaker of the United States House of Representatives after months where the House was unable to decide on a candidate (the Republicans had a plurality, but not a majority, and the Southern Oppositionists who held the balance of power were unwilling to support either a radical Republican or a Democrat). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1860 to the 37th Congress.
He died in Newark and was interred at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Newark.
See also
References
- William Pennington at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- New Jersey Historical Commission biography for William Pennington
- New Jersey Governor William Pennington, National Governors Association
- William Pennington biography from The Political Graveyard
- "William Pennington". Webster's American Biographies. (1975). G. & C. Merriam Company.
| Preceded by Philemon Dickerson |
Governor of New
Jersey October 27, 1837 – October 27, 1843 |
Succeeded by Daniel Haines |
| Preceded by Jacob R. Wortendyke |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 5th congressional district March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861 |
Succeeded by Nehemiah Perry |
| Preceded by James L. Orr |
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives February 1, 1860 – March 4, 1861 |
Succeeded by Galusha A. Grow |
| Governors of New Jersey | |
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| Livingston • Paterson • Howell • Bloomfield • Ogden • W.S. Pennington • M. Dickerson • Williamson • Vroom • Southard • Seeley • P. Dickerson • W. Pennington • Haines • Stratton • Fort • Price • Newell • Olden • Parker • Ward • Randolph • Bedle • McClellan • Ludlow • Abbett • Green • Werts • Griggs • Voorhees • Murphy • Stokes • Fort • Wilson • Fielder • Edge • Edwards • Silzer • Moore • Larson • Hoffman • Edison • Driscoll • Meyner • Hughes • Cahill • Byrne • Kean • Florio • Whitman • DiFrancesco • McGreevey • Codey • Corzine |  |
| Speakers of the United States House of Representatives | |
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| Muhlenberg •
Trumbull • Muhlenberg •
Dayton • Sedgwick • Macon • Varnum • Clay
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