Philemon Dickinson
Encyclopedia
Philemon Dickinson was an American
lawyer
and politician
from Trenton
, New Jersey
. As a brigadier general of the New Jersey militia, he was one of the most effective militia officers of the American Revolutionary War
. He was also a Continental Congress
man from Delaware and a United States Senator
from New Jersey.
Dickinson was born in Maryland
. When he was one, his family moved to Delaware
. He was educated by a private tutor until he went to the University of Pennsylvania
, from where he graduated in 1759. He then studied law
, and was admitted to the bar
, but never practiced. In 1767, Dickinson moved to Trenton, New Jersey. On 14 July 1767, he married his first cousin, Mary Cadwalader (1746–1781). They had two children; Samuel (1770–1837) and Mary (1768–1822). He served as an officer during the American Revolutionary War, rising to the rank of Major General
in the New Jersey Militia.
In 1782 and 1783, he represented Delaware at the Continental Congress
. In 1783-84 he was elected to the New Jersey Legislative Council
from Hunterdon County where he served as Vice-President of Council
both years. He was a member of the commission that selected the site for the national capital in Washington, D.C.
in 1784. When William Paterson resigned from the United States Senate
, Dickinson was chosen by New Jersey to finish Paterson's term. He served in the senate from November 13, 1790 to March 4, 1793. After his service in Congress
, he returned to look after his estates until he died in 1809, and was buried at Friends Burying Ground
in Trenton.
Commanding general of the New Jersey militia during the Revolutionary War, a delegate to the Continental Congress, and a U.S. Senator, Philemon Dickinson was born at "Crosiadore," near Trappe, Maryland on April 5, 1739, a younger brother of John Dickinson. After graduation in the first class from the college of Philadelphia in 1757, he studied law, but never practiced. In 1767 he moved to an estate, "The Hermitage," near Trenton, New Jersey. At the beginning of the Revolutionary War in 1775 he was commissioned a colonel of the Hunterdon County militia. In 1776 he was elected as a delegate to New Jersey's Revolutionary provincial congress. In January 1777 Dickinson led 400 of his militia in a raid on a British foraging party near Somerset Court House, New Jersey, capturing about forty wagons of supplies and several prisoners. In June 1777 he was appointed major general in command of all New Jersey militia, a post he held throughout the rest of the war. Dickinson's militia took part in the battle of Monmouth in 1778, helping obstruct the retreat of the British to New York. When his cousin John Cadwalader dueled General Thomas Conway on July 4, 1778, Dickinson was Cadwalader's second. Dickinson represented New Jersey in the Continental Congress in 1782-83, and the following year served on the commission to choose the site for a national capital. He was elected by the New Jersey legislature as a U.S. Senator in 1790-93, and after that retired to his estate, "The Hermitage," where he died on February 4, 1809. Revolutionary Generals By S. Maner
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, 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...
. As a brigadier general of the New Jersey militia, he was one of the most effective militia officers of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. He was also a 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....
man from Delaware and a United States Senator
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...
from New Jersey.
Dickinson was born in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. When he was one, his family moved to Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
. He was educated by a private tutor until he went to 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...
, from where he graduated in 1759. He then studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, and was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
, but never practiced. In 1767, Dickinson moved to Trenton, New Jersey. On 14 July 1767, he married his first cousin, Mary Cadwalader (1746–1781). They had two children; Samuel (1770–1837) and Mary (1768–1822). He served as an officer during the American Revolutionary War, rising to the rank of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in the New Jersey Militia.
In 1782 and 1783, he represented Delaware at 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....
. In 1783-84 he was elected to the New Jersey Legislative Council
New Jersey Legislative Council
The New Jersey Legislative Council was the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature under the New Jersey Constitution of 1776 until it was replaced by the New Jersey Senate under the Constitution of 1844.-History:...
from Hunterdon County where he served as Vice-President of Council
Vice-President of Council
The Vice-President of Council of the New Jersey Legislature would succeed the Governor if a vacancy occurred in that office.-List of past Vice-Presidents of Council:...
both years. He was a member of the commission that selected the site for the national capital 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 1784. When William Paterson resigned from 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...
, Dickinson was chosen by New Jersey to finish Paterson's term. He served in the senate from November 13, 1790 to March 4, 1793. After his service in 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....
, he returned to look after his estates until he died in 1809, and was buried at Friends Burying Ground
Friends Burying Ground, Trenton
Friends Burying Ground is a cemetery in Trenton in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The cemetery is located on the west side of North Montgomery Street, north of East Hanover Street.-Notable burials:...
in Trenton.
Commanding general of the New Jersey militia during the Revolutionary War, a delegate to the Continental Congress, and a U.S. Senator, Philemon Dickinson was born at "Crosiadore," near Trappe, Maryland on April 5, 1739, a younger brother of John Dickinson. After graduation in the first class from the college of Philadelphia in 1757, he studied law, but never practiced. In 1767 he moved to an estate, "The Hermitage," near Trenton, New Jersey. At the beginning of the Revolutionary War in 1775 he was commissioned a colonel of the Hunterdon County militia. In 1776 he was elected as a delegate to New Jersey's Revolutionary provincial congress. In January 1777 Dickinson led 400 of his militia in a raid on a British foraging party near Somerset Court House, New Jersey, capturing about forty wagons of supplies and several prisoners. In June 1777 he was appointed major general in command of all New Jersey militia, a post he held throughout the rest of the war. Dickinson's militia took part in the battle of Monmouth in 1778, helping obstruct the retreat of the British to New York. When his cousin John Cadwalader dueled General Thomas Conway on July 4, 1778, Dickinson was Cadwalader's second. Dickinson represented New Jersey in the Continental Congress in 1782-83, and the following year served on the commission to choose the site for a national capital. He was elected by the New Jersey legislature as a U.S. Senator in 1790-93, and after that retired to his estate, "The Hermitage," where he died on February 4, 1809. Revolutionary Generals By S. Maner
External links
- Philemon Dickinson 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:...
- Philemon Dickinson 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:...
- Biographical sketch at Virtualology.com (under his brother, John DickinsonJohn Dickinson (delegate)John Dickinson was an American lawyer and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Wilmington, Delaware. He was a militia officer during the American Revolution, a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania and Delaware, a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787, President of...
)