Isaac Halstead Williamson
Encyclopedia
Isaac Halstead Williamson (September 27, 1767 July 10, 1844) was an American Democratic Party
politician who served as the 8th Governor
of New Jersey
, from 1817 to 1829.
, New Jersey. He later studied law with his brother Matthias and became a leading lawyer in New Jersey. He received his attorney's license in 1791, followed by his counselor's license five years later; and in 1804, he was called to be a sergeant-at-law. In 1808, he married Anne Crossdale Jouet (1777–1853) and together they had two sons, Benjamin in 1809 and Isaac Halstead in 1811. In 1815, without knowledge that his name was on the ticket, Isaac was elected as the Democratic representative for Essex County
.
Two years later he was elected Governor of New Jersey
and was re-elected every year from 1818–1829. As part of his duties as governor, Williamson served as the judge of the Prerogative Court of New Jersey. Williamson was Mayor of Elizabethtown, New Jersey
from 1830 to 1833. In 1831 and 1832, he was elected to represent Essex County as a member of the New Jersey Legislative Council
(now known as the New Jersey State Senate). Despite holding these political offices Williamson continued to practice law. In 1844, he was unanimously elected to be President of the convention that framed the revised New Jersey State Constitution
. However, he had to relinquish this position due to poor health and by the end of the year he died in Elizabethtown. His collection of the Chinese Export Armorial Porcelain dinnerware that belonged to his wife's family and bears the Jouet coat-of-arms, is archived at the New Hope, Pennsylvania
Historical Society.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician who served as the 8th Governor
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, from 1817 to 1829.
Biography
Isaac Halstead Williamson was born in 1767 in ElizabethtownElizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
, New Jersey. He later studied law with his brother Matthias and became a leading lawyer in New Jersey. He received his attorney's license in 1791, followed by his counselor's license five years later; and in 1804, he was called to be a sergeant-at-law. In 1808, he married Anne Crossdale Jouet (1777–1853) and together they had two sons, Benjamin in 1809 and Isaac Halstead in 1811. In 1815, without knowledge that his name was on the ticket, Isaac was elected as the Democratic representative for Essex County
Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
.
Two years later he was elected Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
and was re-elected every year from 1818–1829. As part of his duties as governor, Williamson served as the judge of the Prerogative Court of New Jersey. Williamson was Mayor of Elizabethtown, New Jersey
Mayor of Elizabeth, New Jersey
Mayor of Elizabeth, New Jersey:*J. Christian Bollwage 1992 to present*Thomas Gerard Dunn 1964 to 1992. He was the nation's longest-serving mayor of a city of more than 100,000 people.*Steven J. Bercik 1956 to 1964....
from 1830 to 1833. In 1831 and 1832, he was elected to represent Essex County as a member of the New Jersey Legislative Council
New Jersey Legislative Council
The New Jersey Legislative Council was the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature under the New Jersey Constitution of 1776 until it was replaced by the New Jersey Senate under the Constitution of 1844.-History:...
(now known as the New Jersey State Senate). Despite holding these political offices Williamson continued to practice law. In 1844, he was unanimously elected to be President of the convention that framed the revised New Jersey State Constitution
New Jersey State Constitution
The Constitution of the State of New Jersey is the basic governing document of the State of New Jersey. In addition to three British Royal Charters issued for East Jersey, West Jersey and united New Jersey while they were still colonies, the state has been governed by three constitutions...
. However, he had to relinquish this position due to poor health and by the end of the year he died in Elizabethtown. His collection of the Chinese Export Armorial Porcelain dinnerware that belonged to his wife's family and bears the Jouet coat-of-arms, is archived at the New Hope, Pennsylvania
New Hope, Pennsylvania
New Hope, formerly known as Coryell's Ferry, is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA. The population was 2,528 at the 2010 census. The borough lies on the west bank of the Delaware River at its confluence with Aquetong Creek. A two-lane bridge carries automobile and foot traffic across the...
Historical Society.
External links
- Biography of Isaac Halstead Williamson, New Jersey State LibraryNew Jersey State LibraryThe New Jersey State Library, based in Trenton, New Jersey, was established in 1796 to serve the information needs of New Jersey's Governor, Legislature and courts. The State Library is also responsible to assist in the provision of library and information services to all New Jersey...
- New Jersey Governor Isaac Halsted Williamson, National Governors AssociationNational Governors AssociationThe National Governors Association , founded in 1908 as the National Governors' Conference, is funded primarily by state dues, federal grants and contracts and private contributions. NGA represents the governors of the fifty U.S. states and five U.S. territories The National Governors Association...
- Biography of Isaac Halstead Williamson from The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...