Charles Creighton Stratton | |
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| 15th Governor of New Jersey | |
| In office January 21, 1845 – January 18, 1848 | |
| Preceded by | Daniel Haines |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Haines |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew Jersey's at-large congressional district | |
| In office March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843 | |
| Preceded by | Daniel B. Ryall |
| Succeeded by | District eliminated |
| In office March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839 | |
| Preceded by | Ferdinand S. Schenck |
| Succeeded by | Daniel B. Ryall |
| Member of theNew Jersey General Assembly | |
| In office 1821 1823 1829 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1796-03-06)March 6, 1796 |
| Died | March 30, 1859(1859-03-30) (aged 63) |
| Political party | Whig |
| Spouse | Sarah Taggart |
| Education | Rutgers College |
Charles Creighton Stratton (March 6, 1796 – March 30, 1859) was an American farmer and politician who served as the 15thgovernor of New Jersey from 1845 to 1848. He was the first popularly elected governor following the adoption of the1844 New Jersey Constitution.
He also served in the New Jersey legislature during the 1820s and representedNew Jersey in theUnited States House of Representatives from 1837 to 1839 and 1841 to 1843. Between his House terms, he became embroiled in theBroad Seal War, a legal contest over the results of the 1838 New Jersey elections.
Charles Creighton Stratton was born on March 6, 1796, inSwedesboro,Gloucester County,New Jersey.[1]
He graduated fromRutgers College in 1814, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a member of theNew Jersey General Assembly in 1821, 1823, and again in 1829. He was elected as aWhig to theTwenty-fifth United States Congress (1837–1839); presented credentials as a member-elect to theTwenty-sixth Congress, but the House declined to seat him ; reelected to theTwenty-seventh United States Congress (1841–1843). He chose not to run again in 1842.
Stratton served as a member of the 1844constitutional convention that created a revisedNew Jersey State Constitution.[1] The new 1844 New Jersey State Constitution provided for direct election of a governor for a single three-year term. Stratton ran on the Whig ticket, and campaigned on a platform opposing the powerful railroad interests of the state. TheDemocratic candidate wasPennsylvania-bornJohn R. Thomson, who was a stockholder in the railroad and a vigorous advocate of internal improvements.[2]
Stratton won, and served as governor from January 21, 1845, to January 17, 1848. After his term he resumed agricultural pursuits.
He married Sarah Taggart of Philadelphia in 1854.
Although he had no children, Stratton had two notable nephews:
Because of ill health, he resided in Europe in 1857 and 1858. He died on March 30, 1859, in Swedesboro. He is interred atTrinity Church Cemetery in Swedesboro.
His home inWoolwich Township, New Jersey, theGov. Charles C. Stratton House, was built in 1791 and added to theNational Register of Historic Places on January 29, 1973.[3]
| Party political offices | ||
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| Preceded by First | Whig Nominee forGovernor of New Jersey 1844 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromNew Jersey's at-large congressional district alongsideJohn Bancker Aycrigg,William Halstead,John Patterson Bryan Maxwell,Joseph Fitz Randolph, andThomas Jones Yorke on aGeneral ticket March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromNew Jersey's at-large congressional district alongsideJohn Bancker Aycrigg,William Halstead,John Patterson Bryan Maxwell,Joseph Fitz Randolph, andThomas Jones Yorke on aGeneral ticket March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843 | Succeeded by Lucius Q.C. Elmer,George Sykes,Isaac G. Farlee,Littleton Kirkpatrick,William Wrightin separate districts |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Daniel Haines | Governor of New Jersey January 21, 1845 – January 18, 1848 | Succeeded by |
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| Dominion of New England (1688–89) | ||
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| State (since 1776) |
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* UnderN.J.S.A. 52:15-5 (as amended in 2005), an acting governor serving for 180 continuous days or more is conferred the title of Governor. | ||
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