Joel Parker (November 24, 1816 – January 2, 1888) was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 20th Governor of New Jersey from 1863–1866 and from 1871-1874.
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Born near Freehold Township, New Jersey to Charles and Sarah (Coward) Parker, he attended the College of New Jersey (later known as Princeton University), graduating in the class of 1839. He worked in the law office of Henry W. Green and was admitted to the bar in 1842. He married Maria Mott-Gummere in 1843 and the couple had two sons and a daughter.
A Democrat, he was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1847, where he served until 1851 when he was appointed the "prosecutor of pleas" of Monmouth County. He continued to be active in politics and served as a New Jersey elector in the 1860 presidential election, casting his vote for Stephen A. Douglas.
In 1860, New Jersey Governor Charles Smith Olden appointed Parker Major General of the New Jersey militia.
He was nominated for Governor by the Democratic Party in 1862, and ran as a "War Democrat" who supported a military solution to the American Civil War rather than accommodation of the Confederacy. He defeated Marcus L. Ward by the largest margin in State history up to that time.
Although staunchly in favor of the war, Parker was also highly critical of the Lincoln Administration's actions with respect to curtailing civil liberties in the name of the war effort, castigating Lincoln for suspending habeas corpus and for what Parker considered the unconstitutional nature of the Emancipation Proclamation.
In 1863, Parker attended the ceremonies dedicating the Soldiers' National Cemetery at which Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address.
He was the "favorite son" candidate supported by New Jersey electors at the Democratic National Conventions in 1868, 1876, and 1884.
Parker was re-elected Governor in 1871 and served until 1874. He was then Attorney General of New Jersey in 1875 and later served as a justice on the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1880-1888.
After serving as Governor, Parker returned to the practice of law.
He died on January 2, 1888 in New York City.[1] He was buried in Maplewood Cemetery, in Freehold Township, New Jersey.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Charles S. Olden |
Governor of New Jersey January 20, 1863 – January 16, 1866 |
Succeeded by Marcus Lawrence Ward |
| Preceded by Theodore Fitz Randolph |
Governor of New Jersey January 16, 1872 – January 19, 1875 |
Succeeded by Joseph D. Bedle |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Edwin R. V. Wright |
Democratic Nominee for Governor of New Jersey 1862 |
Succeeded by Theodore Runyon |
| Preceded by Theodore Fitz Randolph |
Democratic Nominee for Governor of New Jersey 1871 |
Succeeded by Joseph D. Bedle |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by Robert Gilchrist, Jr. |
New Jersey Attorney General 1875 |
Succeeded by Jacob Vanatta |
| Preceded by unknown |
New Jersey Supreme Court Associate Justice 1880–1888 |
Succeeded by Charles G. Garrison |
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