Joseph Reed Ingersoll

Joseph Reed Ingersoll (June 14, 1786 – February 20, 1868) was an American lawyer and statesman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1835 he followed his father, Jared Ingersoll, and his older brother, Charles Jared Ingersoll, to represent Pennsylvania in the US House of Representatives.

Early life, family and education Ingersoll was born and raised in Philadelphia. His father Jared Ingersoll, and his older brother Charles Jared Ingersoll were both members of the US House of Representatives for Pennsylvania.

Ingersoll graduated from Princeton College in 1804. In 1825, he was elected to the American Philosophical Society.

Career He studied law with his father Jared Ingersoll, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in Philadelphia. He was elected in 1834 as a Whig anti-Jacksonian candidate to the 24th Congress. He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1836, serving 1835–1837. He resumed the practice of law.

Ingersoll was elected as a Whig to the 27th United States Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Sergeant. He was reelected as a Whig to the 28th, 29th, and 30th Congresses. He declined to accept the nomination as a candidate for reelection in 1848. In all, his second stay in office lasted from 1841 to 1849.

He was the chairman of the United States House Committee on the Judiciary during the 30th Congress. He was an advocate for protection and a firm supporter of Henry Clay. One of his noted efforts in the House was a defense of Clay's tariff of 1842.

In 1852, President Millard Fillmore sent him to the UK as the US Minister. He served about a year, and then retired.

Works In retirement, Ingersoll devoting himself to literary pursuits. Ingersoll was a warm adherent of the Union. At the time of the American Civil War, he prepared an essay, "Secession, a Folly and a Crime." He published a translation from the Latin of Roceus's (Francesco Rocco's) tracts "De Navibus et Naulo" and "De Assecuratione" (Philadelphia, 1809). He authored Memoir of Samuel Breck (1863).

Personal life The degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by Lafayette College and Bowdoin College in 1836, and that of D.C.L. by University of Oxford in 1845.

He died in Philadelphia in 1868 and was interred in St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Churchyard.