Samuel W. Pennypacker

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Samuel Pennypacker
Governor of Pennsylvania
In office 1903 – 1907
Born	April 9, 1843 Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Died	September 2, 1916 Schwenksville, Pennsylvania
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Virginia Earl

Samuel Whitaker Pennypacker (9 April 1843 – 2 September 1916) was governor of Pennsylvania from 1903 to 1907.

Pennypacker's early education was interrupted several times before he answered a call to arms by Governor Andrew Curtin during the Gettysburg Campaign of the American Civil War. He enlisted as a private in Company F of the 26th Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia and trained at Camp Curtin.

He fought in the skirmish at Witmer Farm, north of Gettysburg on June 26, 1863, an action that saw his newly recruited regiment retreat to Harrisburg when confronted by veteran Virginia cavalry. He left the emergency militia in late July 1863 and resumed his education.

Pennypacker studied law at the University of Pennsylvania and opened his own law practice in 1866. His public life began in the 1880s with several judgeships; Pennypacker also wrote extensively as president of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. In 1902, he soundly defeated Robert Pattison, who was seeking a third nonconsecutive term as governor.

During his term in office, Pennypacker signed into law the Child Labor Act of 1905, setting a minimum age and standard for young workers. He created the Pennsylvania State Police and the State Museum, and oversaw the completion of the new state capitol building.

In 1906 he vetoed what would have been the first compulsory sterilization law in the United States ([1]). During his time in office, Pennypacker made his home at Pennypacker Mills, a 170-acre farm and mansion that eight generations of Pennypackers lived in before it eventually became a National Historic Site.

Pennypacker died at his home in Schwenksville, aged 73, and was buried in Morris Cemetery, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.

[edit] References and links

• Collection of Samuel Pennypacker biographies
• Pennsylvania State Archives biography of Samuel Pennypacker
• Brief biography

Preceded by William Alexis Stone

Governor of Pennsylvania 1903–1907

Succeeded by Edwin Sydney Stuart

Governors of Pennsylvania

Mifflin • McKean • Snyder • Findlay • Hiester • Shulze • Wolf • Ritner • Porter • Shunk • Johnston • Bigler • Pollock • Packer • Curtin • Geary • Hartranft • Hoyt • Pattison • Beaver • Pattison • Hastings • Stone • Pennypacker • Stuart • Tener • Brumbaugh • Sproul • Pinchot • Fisher • Pinchot • Earle • James • Martin • Bell • Duff • Fine • Leader • Lawrence • Scranton • Shafer • Shapp • Thornburgh • Casey • Ridge • Schweiker • Rendell