Isaac S. Pennybacker | |
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| United States Senator fromVirginia | |
| In office December 3, 1845 – January 12, 1847 | |
| Preceded by | William Cabell Rives |
| Succeeded by | James Murray Mason |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Virginia | |
| In office April 23, 1839 – December 6, 1845 | |
| Appointed by | Martin Van Buren |
| Preceded by | Alexander Caldwell |
| Succeeded by | John White Brockenbrough |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromVirginia's16th district | |
| In office March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839 | |
| Preceded by | James M. H. Beale |
| Succeeded by | Green Berry Samuels |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Isaac Samuels Pennybacker (1805-09-03)September 3, 1805 Pine Forge,Virginia |
| Died | January 12, 1847(1847-01-12) (aged 41) |
| Resting place | Woodbine Cemetery Harrisonburg,Virginia |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Relatives | Green Berry Samuels |
| Education | Winchester Law School |
Isaac Samuels Pennybacker (September 3, 1805 – January 12, 1847) was aUnited States representative and aUnited States senator fromVirginia and aUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Virginia.
Born on September 3, 1805, at Pine Forge nearNewmarket,Shenandoah County,Virginia,[1] Pennybacker attended an "old field" school and theWinchester Law School.[2] He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice inHarrisonburg,Rockingham County, Virginia until 1837.[1]
Pennybacker was elected as aDemocrat fromVirginia's 16th congressional district to theUnited States House of Representatives of the25th United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1837, to March 3, 1839.[2] He declined the office ofUnited States Attorney General offered him by President Martin Van Buren and that of Justice of theSupreme Court of Virginia.[2]
Pennybacker received arecess appointment from PresidentMartin Van Buren on April 23, 1839, to a seat on theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Virginia vacated by JudgeAlexander Caldwell.[1] He was nominated to the same position by President Van Buren on January 23, 1840.[1] He was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on February 17, 1840, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated on December 6, 1845, due to his resignation.[1]
Pennybacker was elected as a Democrat to theUnited States Senate to fill the vacancy in the term beginning March 4, 1845, caused by the failure of theVirginia General Assembly to elect, and served from December 3, 1845, until his death.[2] He was Chairman of the Committee on Claims for the29th United States Congress.[2] He died on January 12, 1847, inWashington, D.C.[1] He was interred in Woodbine Cemetery in Harrisonburg.[2]
PresidentJames K. Polk named Pennybacker to the very first Board of Regents of theSmithsonian Institution, a group which included Vice-PresidentGeorge M. Dallas, Chief JusticeRoger B. Taney, Washington, D.C. MayorWilliam Winston Seaton, SenatorSidney Breese, United States RepresentativeWilliam Jervis Hough, United States RepresentativeRobert Dale Owen, United States RepresentativeHenry Washington Hilliard,Rufus Choate,Richard Rush, Dr.Benjamin Rush,William C. Preston,Alexander Dallas Bache, andJoseph Gilbert Totten, among others, who met for the first time in September 1846.[3]
Pennybacker was a cousin ofGreen Berry Samuels, aUnited States representative from Virginia.[2]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromVirginia's 16th congressional district 1837–1839 | Succeeded by |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Virginia 1839–1845 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 1) from Virginia 1845–1847 Served alongside:William S. Archer | Succeeded by |
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| Class 2 | ||
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| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
