Philemon Dickerson
Encyclopedia
Philemon Dickerson was a United States congressman representing New Jersey
, and was later a United States federal judge
. He was the brother of Governor, then United States Senator, Mahlon Dickerson
of New Jersey. Philemon Dickerson was the father of famous patent attorney Edward Nicholl Dickerson who had defended Samuel Colt
and Charles Goodyear
in their patent-infringement suits.
Born in Succasunna
, Morris County, New Jersey
, Dickerson received an A.B.
from University of Pennsylvania
in 1808 and read law to be admitted to the bar in 1813. He practiced law in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
until 1816, and then in Paterson, New Jersey
until 1821. He served in the New Jersey General Assembly
(1821–1822). In 1832, Dickerson was elected to the House of Representatives
on the Democratic-Republican Party ticket. He served in Congress until he resigned during his second term to accept an appointment from the legislature to be Governor of New Jersey
.
Dickerson won an election to Congress again in 1838, this time as a Democrat
. Having lost his reelection bid in 1840, on February 22, 1841, Dickerson was nominated by President Martin Van Buren
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
which had been vacated by his brother Mahlon Dickerson
. Mahlon had been appointed as a placeholder, so that his brother could finish his term in the closely divided Congress before taking the bench. Dickerson was confirmed by the United States Senate
on February 27, 1841, and received his commission on March 2, 1841. He served in that office until his death, in 1862, in Paterson. Dickerson is buried at Cedar Lawn Cemetery
in Paterson.
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...
, and was later a United States federal judge
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
. He was the brother of Governor, then United States Senator, Mahlon Dickerson
Mahlon Dickerson
Mahlon Dickerson was an American judge and politician. He was elected Governor of New Jersey as well as United States Senator from that state. He was twice appointed Secretary of the Navy - under Presidents Andrew Jackson and Martin van Buren...
of New Jersey. Philemon Dickerson was the father of famous patent attorney Edward Nicholl Dickerson who had defended Samuel Colt
Samuel Colt
Samuel Colt was an American inventor and industrialist. He was the founder of Colt's Patent Fire-Arms Manufacturing Company , and is widely credited with popularizing the revolver. Colt's innovative contributions to the weapons industry have been described by arms historian James E...
and Charles Goodyear
Charles Goodyear
Charles Goodyear was an American inventor who developed a process to vulcanize rubber in 1839 -- a method that he perfected while living and working in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1844, and for which he received patent number 3633 from the United States Patent Office on June 15, 1844Although...
in their patent-infringement suits.
Born in Succasunna
Succasunna-Kenvil, New Jersey
Succasunna-Kenvil is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Roxbury Township, in Morris County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 12,569.-History:...
, Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the United States 2010 Census, the population was 492,276. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Morristown....
, Dickerson received an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1808 and read law to be admitted to the bar in 1813. He practiced law in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
until 1816, and then in Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
until 1821. He served in 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...
(1821–1822). In 1832, Dickerson was elected to the 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...
on the Democratic-Republican Party ticket. He served in Congress until he resigned during his second term to accept an appointment from the legislature to be 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...
.
Dickerson won an election to Congress again in 1838, this time as a Democrat
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...
. Having lost his reelection bid in 1840, on February 22, 1841, Dickerson was nominated by President Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of New Jersey....
which had been vacated by his brother Mahlon Dickerson
Mahlon Dickerson
Mahlon Dickerson was an American judge and politician. He was elected Governor of New Jersey as well as United States Senator from that state. He was twice appointed Secretary of the Navy - under Presidents Andrew Jackson and Martin van Buren...
. Mahlon had been appointed as a placeholder, so that his brother could finish his term in the closely divided Congress before taking the bench. Dickerson was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on February 27, 1841, and received his commission on March 2, 1841. He served in that office until his death, in 1862, in Paterson. Dickerson is buried at Cedar Lawn Cemetery
Cedar Lawn Cemetery, Paterson, New Jersey
Cedar Lawn Cemetery is a cemetery located in Paterson, New Jersey. Cedar Lawn was founded in 1867, and is considered one of the finest Victorian cemeteries in the United States. As of 2009, over 83,000 interments have been recorded at the cemetery....
in Paterson.
External links
- New Jersey Governor Philemon Dickerson, 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 Philemon Dickerson 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:...