John Stevens (politician)
John Stevens (born October 21, 1716 in Perth Amboy Province of New Jersey , † May 10, 1792 in Hoboken , New Jersey ) was an American politician. He was the son of John Stevens (approx. 1682-1737), who came to New England in 1699 , and his wife Ann Campbell. Among his brothers were Campbell Stevens (1714-1770), commander of a company in Louisburg during the French-Indian War, and Richard Stevens (1723-1802), captain and merchant in Perth Amboy and Philadelphia , who traded with the West Indies and Madeira .
Life
He was a merchant and shipowner and ran the business together with his brother Richard. He was a large landowner in Hunterdon County and owned a copper mine in Somerset County.
Stevens was a member of the General Assembly of the Colonies in 1751. He was a member of the Defense Committee to protect New York and New Jersey from Indians' devastation. In 1758 he was Commissioner for Indian Affairs. 1756–1760 he was paymaster for Colonel Schuyler's regiment, the "Old Blues". A resident of New York City, he was one of four on the committee that blocked the issue of postage in 1765.
1774 was appointed commissioner to determine the boundary between New York and New Jersey. He was Vice President of the Council of New Jersey from 1770–1782, and in 1783 served as President of the Council of Landowners of East Jersey.
In 1783, John Stevens was a member of the Continental Congress for the state of New Jersey.
As the third state, New Jersey unanimously approved the ratification of the constitution on December 18, 1787 with 38 votes, John Stevens was president of this state assembly.
He married Elizabeth Alexander, the daughter of James Alexander, a general from New Jersey. They had two children together. On the one hand the inventor John Stevens and on the other hand Mary Stevens, who married Robert R. Livingston .
Stevens died at his son's home in Hoboken, Hudson County, New Jersey, May 10, 1792. He was buried in Frame Meeting House Cemetery, Bethlehem Township , Hunterdon County , NJ.
Web links
- Colonial Governments of the Thirteen Colonies
- Biography on bioguide.congress.gov (English)
- Manuscript Group 409, Stevens Family (Hoboken, NJ) - Papers
- The 13 founding states
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Stevens, John |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American politician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | October 21, 1716 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Perth Amboy New Jersey |
| DATE OF DEATH | May 10, 1792 |
| Place of death | Hoboken , New Jersey |