William Pennington


William Pennington was an American politician and lawyer, the Governor of New Jersey from 1837 to 1843, and served as Speaker of the House during his one term in Congress.

Early life

Born in Newark, New Jersey, he graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1813 and then studied law with Theodore Frelinghuysen. He was admitted to the bar in 1817 and served as a clerk of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey from 1817 to 1826.

Governorship of New Jersey

As a member of the Whig party, he was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1828, and then was elected Governor of New Jersey annually from 1837 to 1843. His tenure as governor was marked by the "Broad Seal War" controversy. Following a disputed election for Congressional Representatives in New Jersey, Pennington certified the election of five Whig candidates while five Democrats were certified by the Democratic Secretary of State. After a lengthy dispute, the Democrats were eventually seated.

Later Political Life

Speakership of House of Representatives.

In November 1858, Pennington was elected as a Republican to represent New Jersey's 5th congressional district in the U.S. House during the 36th Congress. Following a protracted election for speaker of the House of Representatives, 44 ballots over the course of eight weeks, he was elected to the post. This was the third time since 1789 that the House elected a freshman congressmen as its speaker ; such a feat has not been repeated since.
In March 1861 he penned his name on the Corwin Amendment, a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution shielding state "domestic institutions" from the constitutional amendment process and from abolition or interference by Congress. Submitted to the states for ratification shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War, it was not ratified by the requisite number of states.

Death

After running unsuccessfully for reelection in 1860 to the 37th Congress, he returned to New Jersey. He died in Newark of an unintentional morphine overdose and was interred at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Newark.