Jonathan Elmer

Jonathan Elmer (born November 29, 1745 in Cedarville , Province of New Jersey , †  September 3, 1817 in Bridgeton , New Jersey ) was an American politician .

Life

Early life

Jonathan Elmer was born in Cumberland County, New Jersey , the eldest son of Theophilus Elmer, a clergyman and pastor in the Presbyterian Ward of Fairfield . His younger brother Ebenezer Elmer later also became a politician, and sat from 1801 to 1806 as an MP for New Jersey in the Federal Congress in Washington, DC

After his father's death in 1761, Jonathan Elmer enrolled at the newly formed University of Pennsylvania , where he studied medicine and philosophy . In 1771 he was one of the first ten students to receive the graduation certificate for the first time at that faculty. He then began practicing as a doctor in Bridgeton, New Jersey.

Career

Elmer got enthusiastic about political office at an early age. In 1772 he ran successfully for the office of sheriff in his home district, Cumberland County. He was also appointed head of an infantry unit in 1775, shortly before the start of the American Revolutionary War .

In 1777 Elmer was elected to the Continental Congress as a federalist party member . He was to be re-elected twice with interruptions, and served in the years 1777 to 1778, 1781 to 1783 and finally from 1787 to 1788. Elmer was able to expand his political experience in the state government of New Jersey, as he did in 1780 but also in 1784 was appointed a member of the State Council. Parallel to his work as a politician, he also made a name for himself from 1782 as the treasurer of the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University , an office that Elmer held until 1795.

In 1789 Elmer ran successfully for a seat in the United States Senate , and served from March 4, 1789 to March 3, 1791. Another candidacy failed due to his poor health.

Since 1774 he was a member of the American Philosophical Society .

Late life

In 1802 Elmer was appointed Chief Justice of the New Jersey Court of Appeal and served there until 1804. In late 1813 he was re-elected to that position, but served only for a few months until February 1814.

Jonathan Elmer died three years later, at the age of 71.

Little is known about the politician's private life. What is certain is that he was the father of a son. Lucius Elmer (1793-1883) sat from 1843 to 1845 as a member of the Democrats for New Jersey in Congress.

Web links

• Jonathan Elmer in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)

Individual evidence

1. ^ Member History: Jonathan Elmer. American Philosophical Society, accessed July 29, 2018 .