Philemon Dickerson (January 11, 1788 – December 10, 1862) was a
United States representative
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
from
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
, the 12th
governor of New Jersey
The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The official r ...
and
judge of the
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (in case citations, D.N.J.) is a federal court in the Third Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the ...
.
Education and career
Born on January 11, 1788,
[Dickerson's gravestone and some other sources give his birth June 26, 1788. However, both FJC Bio and CongBio, as well as other sources give his date as January 11, 1788, which date will be used in this article.] in
Succasunna,
Morris County,
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
,
Dickerson pursued classical studies, received an
Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1808 from the
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn or UPenn) is a private research university in Philadelphia. It is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and is ranked among the highest-regarded universitie ...
and
read law in 1813.
He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
,
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
from 1813 to 1816.
He continued private practice in
Paterson, New Jersey from 1816 to 1821, and from 1822 to 1833,
having been admitted as a counselor in 1817.
He was a member of the
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.
Since the election of 1967 (1968 Session), the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts f ...
from
Essex County, from 1821 to 1822.
Congressional and gubernatorial service
Dickerson was elected as a
Jacksonian Democrat
Jacksonian democracy was a 19th-century political philosophy in the United States that expanded suffrage to most white men over the age of 21, and restructured a number of federal institutions. Originating with the seventh U.S. president, An ...
from
New Jersey's at-large congressional district to the
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
of the
23rd and
24th United States Congress
The 24th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1835 ...
es and served from March 4, 1833, until November 3, 1836, when he resigned, having been chosen as the 12th
Governor of New Jersey
The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The official r ...
by the
New Jersey Legislature.
He served as Governor and ex officio Chancellor from November 3, 1836, to October 27, 1837.
He was appointed sergeant at law in 1834, being the last person in New Jersey to hold that title.
He resumed private practice in Paterson from 1837 to 1839.
He was elected as a Democrat to the
26th United States Congress
The 26th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1839 ...
, serving from March 4, 1839, to March 3, 1841.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the
27th United States Congress
The 27th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. between March 4, 1 ...
.
Federal judicial service
Dickerson was nominated by President
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren ( ; nl, Maarten van Buren; ; December 5, 1782 – July 24, 1862) was an American lawyer and statesman who served as the eighth president of the United States from 1837 to 1841. A primary founder of the Democratic Party, he ...
on February 22, 1841, to a seat on the
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (in case citations, D.N.J.) is a federal court in the Third Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the ...
vacated by Judge
Mahlon Dickerson
Mahlon Dickerson (April 17, 1770 – October 5, 1853) was a justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, the seventh governor of New Jersey, United States Senator from New Jersey, the 10th United States Secretary of the Navy and a United States ...
.
He was confirmed by the
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and pow ...
on February 27, 1841, and received his commission on March 2, 1841.
His service terminated on December 10, 1862, due to his death in Paterson.
He was interred in
Cedar Lawn Cemetery
Cedar Lawn Cemetery is a rural cemetery in Paterson, New Jersey, and is also considered one of the finest Victorian cemeteries in the USA. Cedar Lawn Cemetery officially opened in September 1867, and recorded its first burial on September 27, 186 ...
in Paterson.
Other service
Concurrent with his federal judicial service, Dickerson was President of the city council of Paterson in 1851.
Family
Dickerson was the brother of
Mahlon Dickerson
Mahlon Dickerson (April 17, 1770 – October 5, 1853) was a justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, the seventh governor of New Jersey, United States Senator from New Jersey, the 10th United States Secretary of the Navy and a United States ...
, a
United States senator
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and powe ...
from New Jersey and Dickerson's predecessor on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Note
References
Sources
*
New Jersey Governor Philemon Dickerson National Governors Association
The National Governors Association (NGA) is an American political organization founded in 1908. The association's members are the governors of the 55 states, territories and commonwealths. Members come to the association from across the politica ...
Biography of Philemon Dickersonfrom
The Political Graveyard
The Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 277,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information. The name comes from the website's inclusion of burial locations o ...
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dickerson, Philemon
1788 births
1862 deaths
Democratic Party governors of New Jersey
University of Pennsylvania alumni
Democratic Party members of the New Jersey General Assembly
Judges of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
United States federal judges appointed by Martin Van Buren
19th-century American judges
American Episcopalians
New Jersey Democratic-Republicans
People from Roxbury, New Jersey
Jacksonian members of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey
Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey
Burials at Cedar Lawn Cemetery
19th-century American politicians
United States federal judges admitted to the practice of law by reading law