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JOHN POTTER STOCKTON
Originally published in 1900 |
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JOHN POTTER STOCKTON was born in Philadelphia. Pa., February
2, 1852. John Potter Stockton, Sr., his father, was born in Princeton, N. J.,
August 2, 1826, and died January 22, 1900. He was graduated from Princeton
College in 1843. He read law with Judge Richard S. Field, was admitted to the bar as an attorney in April, 1847, and as a counselor in I850,
and practiced his profession in New Jersey with marked success until 1857,
being appointed in the meantime commissioner to revise the laws of the
State, and making in this capacity a report which was adopted by the Legislature.
In 1857 he was appointed by President Buchanan United States
Minister to Rome and served in that capacity until 1861, when he returned
and resumed the practice of law in Trenton. He was elected United States
Senator for the term commencing March 4, 1865, but was unseated on account
of the election by a plurality act wanting one of a majority. He was
re-elected United States Senator for the six years beginning March 4, 1869,
and served a full term, being one of the leaders on the Democratic side. He
then resumed his practice in Trenton. He was appointed Attorney-General
of the State, April 8, 1877, and filled that office with eminent ability for four
terms of five years each, being reappointed in 1882, 1887, and 1893. At the
close of his fourth term on April 5, 1897, he resumed the practice of law in
Jersey City. In 1845 he married Sarah Marks, of Philadelphia, Pa. His
father was Commodore Robert Field Stockton, of the United States Navy.
Richard Stockton, "The Duke," father of Commodore Robert F. Stockton
and great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a signer of the
Declaration of Independence and a distinguished citizen of Princeton.
The family came originally from England, where they were quite celebrated,
one of the members being Lord Mayor of London. No name in
New Jersey is more distinguished or more conspicuous in the professional
and military history of the colony and State. For generations it has figured
prominently in important affairs and has always maintained a place
of dignity and honor. Although born in Philadelphia, John P. Stockton, the subject of this article, has spent most of his life in New Jersey. He received his preparatory education at the Charlier Institute in New York City. The early part of his life was devoted to the study of railroads in New Jersey, and for a long time he was connected with the Erie Railroad, the New Jersey Southern Railroad, and the New Jersey Central Railroad Company. In 1883 he took tip the study of medicine. The medical profession, however, was, not to his taste, and he finally abandoned it for that of the law. He was admitted to the New Jersey bar as an attorney in 1895 and as a counselor in 1899, and has successfully practiced his profession in Jersey City, where he resides. He has displayed legal qualifications of a high order. As a citizen as well as a lawyer and advocate he has gained an honorable reputation and is respected and esteemed by all who know him. He has also devoted considerable attention to literature, having written articles for several magazines and a number of books, of which one entitled " Zaphra " has gained for him a considerable reputation as an author.
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