William Pennington

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William Pennington
William Pennington

In office
February 1, 1860 – July 4, 1861
Preceded by James L. Orr
Succeeded by Galusha A. Grow

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 5th district
In office
18591861
Preceded by Jacob R. Wortendyke
Succeeded by Nehemiah Perry

Born May 4, 1796
Newark, New Jersey
Died February 16], 1862
Newark, New Jersey
Political party Republican

William Pennington (May 4, 1796February 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 Governor of New Jersey 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.

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.

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Preceded by
Philemon Dickerson
Governor of New Jersey
1837 – 1843
Succeeded by
Daniel Haines
Preceded by
James L. Orr
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
February 1, 1860March 4, 1861
Succeeded by
Galusha A. Grow


This article incorporates facts obtained from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.