Lucius Elmer
Encyclopedia
Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus Elmer (February 3, 1793, Bridgeton, New Jersey
– March 11, 1883, Bridgeton, New Jersey
) was an American
Democratic Party
politician who represented New Jersey
's 1st congressional district
in the U.S. Congress
from 1843 to 1845. He was son of Ebenezer Elmer
and nephew of Jonathan Elmer
, both of whom also served in Congress.
Elmer was born in Bridgeton, New Jersey
on February 3, 1793. He attended the private schools and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania
. During the War of 1812
, he served in the militia as a lieutenant of artillery, and was promoted to the rank of brigade major and inspector. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1815 and commenced practice in Bridgeton. He was prosecuting attorney for the State in 1824. He was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from 1820–1823, serving the last year as speaker. He was prosecutor of the pleas for Cumberland County
in 1824 and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey from 1824-1829.
Elmer was elected in 1843 as a Democrat to the Twenty-eighth Congress in a district which comprises Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties (Camden County was created out of Gloucester in 1844), serving in office from March 4, 1843-March 3, 1845, where he served as chairman of the Committee on Elections. He was an unsuccessful for reelection in 1844 to the Twenty-ninth Congress. As a lame-duck Congressman, Elmer was the lone New Jersey Democratic vote against the annexation of Texas in January 1845.
After leaving Congress, he served as New Jersey Attorney General
of New Jersey from 1850–1852, and was an associate justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court
from 1852 to 1859 and again from 1861 until 1869 when he retired. He died in Bridgeton on March 11, 1883, and was interred in Old Broad Street Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Bridgeton.
Elmer married Catharine Hay on 6 October 1818 in Philadelphia. Catharine Hay, daughter of Daniel Hay and Catharine Ferrier, was born in 1794 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, died on 27 October 1884 in Bridgeton, Cumberland, New Jersey at age 90, and was interred on 30 October 1884 in Old Broad Street Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Bridgeton, Cumberland, New Jersey.
The Borough of Elmer
in Salem County, New Jersey
was named in his honor. Elmer helped obtain a post office for the community during his service as Congressman.
Bridgeton, New Jersey
Bridgeton is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States, in the south part of the state, on the Cohansey River, near Delaware Bay. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 25,349. It is the county seat of Cumberland County...
– March 11, 1883, Bridgeton, New Jersey
Bridgeton, New Jersey
Bridgeton is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States, in the south part of the state, on the Cohansey River, near Delaware Bay. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 25,349. It is the county seat of Cumberland County...
) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician who represented New Jersey
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...
's 1st congressional district
New Jersey's 1st congressional district
New Jersey's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of New Jersey.The current U.S. Representative from the 1st district is Democrat Rob Andrews...
in the U.S. Congress
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1843 to 1845. He was son of Ebenezer Elmer
Ebenezer Elmer
Ebenezer Elmer was an American physician from Bridgeton, New Jersey. He represented New Jersey in the U.S. Congress from the Democratic-Republican Party from 1801 to 1807...
and nephew of Jonathan Elmer
Jonathan Elmer
Jonathan Elmer was an American politician, of the Pro-Administration Party.Elmer was born in Cedarville, New Jersey in 1745. He was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1769 after studying medicine. He practiced medicine in Bridgeton, New Jersey until he became sheriff of Cumberland...
, both of whom also served in Congress.
Elmer was born in Bridgeton, New Jersey
Bridgeton, New Jersey
Bridgeton is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States, in the south part of the state, on the Cohansey River, near Delaware Bay. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 25,349. It is the county seat of Cumberland County...
on February 3, 1793. He attended the private schools and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, he served in the militia as a lieutenant of artillery, and was promoted to the rank of brigade major and inspector. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1815 and commenced practice in Bridgeton. He was prosecuting attorney for the State in 1824. He was 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...
from 1820–1823, serving the last year as speaker. He was prosecutor of the pleas for Cumberland County
Cumberland County, New Jersey
Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population is 156,898. Its county seat is Bridgeton. Cumberland County is named for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland....
in 1824 and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey from 1824-1829.
Elmer was elected in 1843 as a Democrat to the Twenty-eighth Congress in a district which comprises Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties (Camden County was created out of Gloucester in 1844), serving in office from March 4, 1843-March 3, 1845, where he served as chairman of the Committee on Elections. He was an unsuccessful for reelection in 1844 to the Twenty-ninth Congress. As a lame-duck Congressman, Elmer was the lone New Jersey Democratic vote against the annexation of Texas in January 1845.
After leaving Congress, he 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...
of New Jersey from 1850–1852, and was an associate justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court
New Jersey Supreme Court
The New Jersey Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It has existed in three different forms under the three different state constitutions since the independence of the state in 1776...
from 1852 to 1859 and again from 1861 until 1869 when he retired. He died in Bridgeton on March 11, 1883, and was interred in Old Broad Street Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Bridgeton.
Elmer married Catharine Hay on 6 October 1818 in Philadelphia. Catharine Hay, daughter of Daniel Hay and Catharine Ferrier, was born in 1794 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, died on 27 October 1884 in Bridgeton, Cumberland, New Jersey at age 90, and was interred on 30 October 1884 in Old Broad Street Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Bridgeton, Cumberland, New Jersey.
The Borough of Elmer
Elmer, New Jersey
Elmer is a Borough in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 1,395, making it the 520th largest city in New Jersey....
in Salem County, New Jersey
Salem County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 64,285 people, 24,295 households, and 17,370 families residing in the county. The population density was 190 people per square mile . There were 26,158 housing units at an average density of 77 per square mile...
was named in his honor. Elmer helped obtain a post office for the community during his service as Congressman.
External links
- Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus Elmer 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:...
- Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus Elmer at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...