Richard Stockton Field
Encyclopedia
Richard Stockton Field was a United States Senator from New Jersey
, and later a United States federal judge
. Field was the great-grandson of Richard Stockton (1730-1781)
, New Jersey Delegate to the Continental Congress
, and the grandson of Richard Stockton (1764-1828)
, US Senator from New Jersey.
Born in White Hall, Burlington County, New Jersey
, Field moved to Princeton, New Jersey
with his mother in 1810; pursued an academic course and graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University
) in 1821. He read law and was admitted to the bar in 1825, commencing private practice in Salem, New Jersey
. He moved to Princeton, N.J., in 1832, and served as a New Jersey state representative from 1833 to 1834, and as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly
in 1837, and served as New Jersey Attorney General
from 1838-1841. He was a member of the State constitutional convention of 1844, and a professor at the Princeton Law School
from 1847 to 1855, thereafter returning to private practice.
Field was appointed as a Republican
to the United States Senate
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John R. Thomson and served from November 21, 1862, to January 14, 1863, when a successor was elected. He was not a candidate for election in 1863. Instead, Field was nominated by President Abraham Lincoln
on January 14, 1863, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
vacated by Philemon Dickerson
. Field was confirmed by the United States Senate
, , and received commission, on the same day that he was nominated. He served on the court until his resignation, on April 25, 1870, one month before his death.
He died in Princeton, New Jersey
and was buried in Princeton Cemetery
.
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 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....
. Field was the great-grandson of Richard Stockton (1730-1781)
Richard Stockton (1730-1781)
Richard Stockton was an American lawyer, jurist, legislator, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.-Early life:...
, New Jersey Delegate to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
, and the grandson of Richard Stockton (1764-1828)
Richard Stockton (1764-1828)
Richard Stockton was a lawyer who represented New Jersey in the United States Senate and later served in the United States House of Representatives. He was the first U.S...
, US Senator from New Jersey.
Born in White Hall, Burlington County, New Jersey
Burlington County, New Jersey
There were 154,371 households out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had...
, Field moved to Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
with his mother in 1810; pursued an academic course and graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
) in 1821. He read law and was admitted to the bar in 1825, commencing private practice in Salem, New Jersey
Salem, New Jersey
Salem is a city in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 5,146. It is the county seat of Salem County, the most rural county in the state of New Jersey. The name Salem is related to the Hebrew word shalom, meaning "peace".The town and...
. He moved to Princeton, N.J., in 1832, and served as a New Jersey state representative from 1833 to 1834, and as 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...
in 1837, and served as New Jersey Attorney General
New Jersey Attorney General
The Attorney General of New Jersey is a member of the executive cabinet of the state. The office is appointed by the Governor of New Jersey and term limited...
from 1838-1841. He was a member of the State constitutional convention of 1844, and a professor at the Princeton Law School
Princeton Law School
The Law School at the College of New Jersey began instruction in 1847 as a modest effort consisting of three professors: Joseph Coerten Hornblower, Richard Stockton Field, and James S. Green. Only seven students would obtain a law degree before the school closed in 1852...
from 1847 to 1855, thereafter returning to private practice.
Field was appointed as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to 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...
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John R. Thomson and served from November 21, 1862, to January 14, 1863, when a successor was elected. He was not a candidate for election in 1863. Instead, Field was nominated by President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
on January 14, 1863, 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....
vacated by Philemon Dickerson
Philemon Dickerson
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...
. Field 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...
, , and received commission, on the same day that he was nominated. He served on the court until his resignation, on April 25, 1870, one month before his death.
He died in Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
and was buried in Princeton Cemetery
Princeton Cemetery
Princeton Cemetery is located in Borough of Princeton, New Jersey. It is owned by the Nassau Presbyterian Church. John F. Hageman in his 1878 history of Princeton, New Jersey refers to the cemetery as: "The Westminster Abbey of the United States."...
.
External links
- Richard Stockton Field at 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:...