Peter Dumont Vroom
Encyclopedia
Peter Dumont Vroom an American
Democratic Party
politician
, 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
the son of Col. Peter Dumont Vroom (1745-1831) who represented Somerset County
as an Assemblyman (1790-91, 1794-96, and 1811-13) and in the Legislative Council
from 1798 to 1804 as a Federalist. The younger Vroom 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 1832 and 1833 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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic Party
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, served as the 9th 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...
(serving two terms in office; from 1829–1832 and 1833–1836) and as a member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for a single term, from 1839–1841.
He was born in Hillsborough Township, New Jersey
Hillsborough Township, New Jersey
Hillsborough Township is a Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 38,303....
the son of Col. Peter Dumont Vroom (1745-1831) who represented Somerset County
Somerset County, New Jersey
Somerset County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. In 2010, the population was 323,444. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Somerville....
as an Assemblyman (1790-91, 1794-96, and 1811-13) and in the 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:...
from 1798 to 1804 as a Federalist. The younger Vroom graduated from Columbia College
Columbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the Church of England as King's College, receiving a Royal Charter from King George II...
, 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
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
from 1826 to 1829. He then served as governor of New Jersey from 1829 to 1832 and 1833 to 1836. As governor, Vroom supported the establishment of the Camden and Amboy Railroad and the Delaware and Raritan Canal
Delaware and Raritan Canal
The Delaware and Raritan Canal is a canal in central New Jersey, United States, built in the 1830s that served to connect the Delaware River to the Raritan River. It was intended as an efficient and reliable means of transportation of freight between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New York City,...
.
In 1838, Vroom was one of five Democratic candidates for Congress to become involved in the Broad Seal War
Broad Seal War
The Broad Seal War was a controversy over the results of a Congressional election in the U.S. state of New Jersey in 1838.Following the closely contested election of 1838, two groups sought admission to the United States Congress from New Jersey...
controversy. Disputed election results caused the U.S. House of Representatives to challenge the Whig candidates certified by Governor William Pennington
William Pennington
William Pennington was an American politician and lawyer, the Governor of New Jersey, and Speaker of the House during his one term in Congress....
. 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
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...
in 1844. He was appointed by President Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army...
as United States Minister to Prussia
United States Ambassador to Germany
The United States has had diplomatic relations with the nation of Germany and its predecessor nation, the Kingdom of Prussia, since 1835. These relations were broken twice while Germany and the United States were at war...
from November 4, 1853 through August 10, 1857. He died in Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
and was buried in the DuMont Cemetery off River Road in Hillsborough, New Jersey.
External links
- http://slic.njstatelib.org/slic_files/imported/NJ_Information/Digital_Collections/Governors_of_New_Jersey/GVROO.pdf biography of Governor Vroom at the 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 Peter Dumont Vroom, 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...
- Political Graveyard information for Peter Dumont Vroom
- Dead Governors of New Jersey - Peter D. Vroom