William Halstead
Encyclopedia
William Halstead was an American
Whig Party
politician who represented New Jersey
at large in the United States House of Representatives
from 1837–1839, and again from 1841 to 1843.
Halstead was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey
on June 4, 1794. He graduated from Princeton College
in 1812, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1816 and commenced practice in Trenton, New Jersey
. He was appointed reporter of the New Jersey Supreme Court
on November 23, 1821, and served until 1832. He published seven volumes of Halstead’s Law Reports. He was prosecuting attorney of Hunterdon County
from 1824–1829 and 1833-1837.
Halstead was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-fifth Congress, serving from March 4, 1837-March 3, 1839. He presented credentials as a Member-elect to the Twenty-sixth Congress but the House declined to seat him. He was elected to the Twenty-seventh Congress, serving from March 4, 1841-March 3, 1843. He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Elections
in the Twenty-seventh Congress.
After leaving congress, he was appointed by President Zachary Taylor
as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey and served from 1849 to 1853. He raised the 1st New Jersey Volunteer Cavalry during the American Civil War
and served as its colonel until February 18, 1862. He retired from public life and died in Trenton on March 4, 1878, and was interred there in Riverview Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Whig Party
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
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...
at large in the United States House of Representatives
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 1837–1839, and again from 1841 to 1843.
Halstead was born in 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...
on June 4, 1794. He graduated from Princeton College
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 1812, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1816 and commenced practice in Trenton, New Jersey
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...
. He was appointed reporter 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...
on November 23, 1821, and served until 1832. He published seven volumes of Halstead’s Law Reports. He was prosecuting attorney of Hunterdon County
Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Hunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 128,349. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington....
from 1824–1829 and 1833-1837.
Halstead was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-fifth Congress, serving from March 4, 1837-March 3, 1839. He presented credentials as a Member-elect to the Twenty-sixth Congress but the House declined to seat him. He was elected to the Twenty-seventh Congress, serving from March 4, 1841-March 3, 1843. He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Elections
United States House Committee on Elections
The United States House Committee on Elections is a former standing committee of the United States House of Representatives.Article 1, section 5, of the Constitution of the United States specifies: "Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns, and Qualifications of its own Members." The...
in the Twenty-seventh Congress.
After leaving congress, he was appointed by President Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass...
as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey and served from 1849 to 1853. He raised the 1st New Jersey Volunteer Cavalry during the American 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...
and served as its colonel until February 18, 1862. He retired from public life and died in Trenton on March 4, 1878, and was interred there in Riverview Cemetery.