John Van Dyke

John Van Dyke (April 3, 1807 in Lamington, Somerset County, New Jersey – December 24, 1878 in Wabasha, Minnesota) was an American jurist and Whig Party politician who represented New Jersey's 4th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1847 to 1851.

Biography

He was born on April 3, 1807 in the Lamington section of Bedminster Township. After completing his preparatory and law studies, Van Dyke was admitted to the Bar in 1836. He began practice in New Brunswick, New Jersey. In 1841, Van Dyke became prosecuting attorney of Middlesex County. A few years later, in 1846-1847, he served as president of the Bank of New Jersey at New Brunswick, while also serving as Mayor of New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Van Dyke's political career also began in 1847; he was elected to the Thirtieth and Thirty-first Congresses as a Whig. He served until March 3, 1851. Van Dyke declined re-nomination for another term, choosing instead to continue his law practice. He was a delegate to the 1856 Republican National Convention, and from 1859 to 1866 he served as a judge on the New Jersey Supreme Court.

In 1868, Van Dyke moved to Wabasha, Minnesota, where he went on to serve in the Minnesota Senate from 1872 to 1873 and a judge of the third judicial district from 1873 to 1878.

Van Dyke is interred in Wabasha's Riverview Cemetery.

External links

• John Van Dyke at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• John Van Dyke at The Political Graveyard
• John Van Dyke at Find a Grave