Joseph T. Crowell
Encyclopedia
Joseph Tucker Crowell was an American
printer
, editor
, and politician
. He served as Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly
and as President of the New Jersey Senate
.
in 1817, the son of Nathan and Harriet (Tucker) Crowell. He first learned the printer's trade working on the Elizabeth Journal of Elizabeth, New Jersey
. He later set type on the first number of the Sunday Atlas in New York City
and printed other New York journals. For five years he published Crowell's Pictorial and National Register, the first pictorial newspaper printed in the United States.
Crowell was a printing contractor for the United States Congress
, working with Congressional printer Cornelius Wendell. Wendell had established a printing business in Washington, D.C.
, in a building designed in 1856 by Edward Clark
. Crowell acquired the building in 1859. In 1861 he was presented with a check for $135,000 for the purchase of the building by the federal government to house the newly established Government Printing Office.
During the Civil War
, Crowell became active politically as a War Democrat
. In 1861, he was elected to the New Jersey Senate
from Union County
, serving as the body's president in 1862. He went on to serve in the New Jersey General Assembly
, holding the position of Speaker in 1865.
Crowell became City Treasurer of Rahway in 1869. He was indicted in 1880 on charges of embezzlement of city funds, but the jury ended in a deadlock.
In the 1888 presidential election
, Crowell left the Democratic Party to support the Republican ticket of Benjamin Harrison
.
In 1891, Crowell died in Rahway at the age of 74.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
printer
Printer (publisher)
In publishing, printers are both companies providing printing services and individuals who directly operate printing presses. With the invention of the moveable type printing press by Johannes Gutenberg around 1450, printing—and printers—proliferated throughout Europe.Today, printers are found...
, editor
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
, and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He served as Speaker 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...
and as President of the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
.
Biography
Crowell was born in Rahway, New JerseyRahway, New Jersey
Rahway is a city in southern Union County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the New York metropolitan area, being 15 miles southwest of Manhattan and five miles west of Staten Island...
in 1817, the son of Nathan and Harriet (Tucker) Crowell. He first learned the printer's trade working on the Elizabeth Journal of Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
. He later set type on the first number of the Sunday Atlas in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and printed other New York journals. For five years he published Crowell's Pictorial and National Register, the first pictorial newspaper printed in the United States.
Crowell was a printing contractor for the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, working with Congressional printer Cornelius Wendell. Wendell had established a printing business in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, in a building designed in 1856 by Edward Clark
Edward Clark (architect)
Edward Clark was an American architect who served as Architect of the Capitol from 1865 to 1902.Edward Clark was Thomas U. Walter's student, chief assistant, and successor. Prior to working with Walter, he had received training in freehand and mechanical drawing as well as engineering...
. Crowell acquired the building in 1859. In 1861 he was presented with a check for $135,000 for the purchase of the building by the federal government to house the newly established Government Printing Office.
During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Crowell became active politically as a War Democrat
War Democrats
War Democrats in American politics of the 1860s were adherents of the Democratic Party who rejected the Copperheads/Peace Democrats who controlled the party...
. In 1861, he was elected to the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
from Union County
Union County, New Jersey
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 536,499. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Elizabeth. Union County ranks 93rd among the highest-income counties in the United States. It also ranks 74th in...
, serving as the body's president in 1862. He went on to serve 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...
, holding the position of Speaker in 1865.
Crowell became City Treasurer of Rahway in 1869. He was indicted in 1880 on charges of embezzlement of city funds, but the jury ended in a deadlock.
In the 1888 presidential election
United States presidential election, 1888
The 1888 election for President of the United States saw Grover Cleveland of New York, the incumbent president and a Democrat, try to secure a second term against the Republican nominee Benjamin Harrison, a former U.S. Senator from Indiana...
, Crowell left the Democratic Party to support the Republican ticket of Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
.
In 1891, Crowell died in Rahway at the age of 74.
External links
- Joseph T. Crowell 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:...