Peter Dumont Vroom

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Peter Dumont Vroom

In office
November 6, 1829 – October 26, 1832
Preceded by Isaac Halstead Williamson
Succeeded by Samuel L. Southard
In office
October 25, 1833 – October 28, 1836
Preceded by Elias P. Seeley
Succeeded by Philemon Dickerson

Born December 12, 1791(1791-12-12)
Hillsborough Township, New Jersey
Died November 18, 1873 (aged 81)
Trenton, New Jersey
Political party Democratic

Peter Dumont Vroom (December 12, 1791November 18, 1873), an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 9th Governor of New Jersey (serving two terms in office; from 1829–1832 and 1833–1836) and as a member of the United States House of Representatives for a single term, from 1839–1841.

He was born in Hillsborough Township, New Jersey and graduated from Columbia College, New York in 1808. After studying law at Somerville Academy he was admitted to the bar in 1813.

Vroom was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly from 1826 to 1829. He then served as governor of New Jersey from 1829 to 1836. As governor, Vroom supported the establishment of the Camden and Amboy Railroad and the Delaware and Raritan Canal.

In 1838, Vroom was one of five Democratic candidates for Congress to become involved in the Broad Seal War controversy. Disputed election results caused the U.S. House of Representatives to challenge the Whig candidates certified by Governor William Pennington. After a lengthy fight, Vroom and the four other Democrats were seated in place of the Whigs. Vroom lost his bid for reelection in 1840.

He then served as a delegate to the New Jersey State Constitutional Convention in 1844. He was appointed by President Franklin Pierce as United States Minister to Prussia from November 4, 1853 through August 10, 1857. He died in Trenton, New Jersey and was buried in the DuMont Cemetery off River Road in Hillsborough, New Jersey.

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Preceded by
Isaac Halstead Williamson
Governor of New Jersey
November 6, 1829 - October 26, 1832
Succeeded by
Samuel L. Southard
Preceded by
Elias P. Seeley
Governor of New Jersey
October 25, 1833 - October 28, 1836
Succeeded by
Philemon Dickerson
Preceded by
John Bancker Aycrigg

William Halstead
John Patterson Bryan Maxwell
Joseph Fitz Randolph
Charles C. Stratton
Thomas Jones Yorke

U.S. House of Representatives
New Jersey At Large

1839–1841

William Raworth Cooper
Philemon Dickerson
Joseph Kille
Joseph Fitz Randolph
Daniel Bailey Ryall

Succeeded by
John Bancker Aycrigg

William Halstead
John Patterson Bryan Maxwell
Joseph Fitz Randolph
Charles C. Stratton
Thomas Jones Yorke

Preceded by
Daniel D. Barnard
United States Envoy to Prussia
November 4, 1853August 10, 1857
Succeeded by
Joseph A. Wright