Philemon Dickerson

Philemon Dickerson (January 11, 1788 – December 10, 1862) was a United States representative from New Jersey, the 12th governor of New Jersey and judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Education and career Born on January 11, 1788, in Succasunna, New Jersey, Dickerson pursued classical studies, received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1808 from the University of Pennsylvania and read law in 1813. He was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly from Essex County, from 1821 to 1822.

Congressional and gubernatorial service Dickerson was elected as a Jacksonian Democrat from New Jersey's at-large congressional district to the United States House of Representatives of the 23rd and 24th United States Congresses and served from March 4, 1833, until November 3, 1836, when he resigned, having been chosen as the 12th Governor of New Jersey by the New Jersey Legislature. He served as Governor and ex officio Chancellor from November 3, 1836, to October 27, 1837. He was appointed sergeant at law in 1834, being the last person in New Jersey to hold that title. He resumed private practice in Paterson from 1837 to 1839. He was elected as a Democrat to the 26th United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1839, to March 3, 1841. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the 27th United States Congress.

Federal judicial service Dickerson was nominated by President Martin Van Buren on February 22, 1841, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey vacated by his brother, Judge Mahlon Dickerson. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 27, 1841, and received his commission on March 2, 1841.

Concurrent with his federal judicial service, Dickerson was City Council President for Paterson, New Jersey, in 1851. His service terminated on December 10, 1862, due to his death in Paterson. He was interred in Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Paterson.

Family Dickerson was the brother of Mahlon Dickerson, a United States senator from New Jersey and Dickerson's predecessor on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

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