Jonathan Elmer | |
|---|---|
| Presiding judge ofCumberland CountyCourt of Common Pleas | |
| In office 1813 – February 1814 | |
| In office 1802–1804 | |
| United States Senator fromNew Jersey | |
| In office March 4, 1789 – March 3, 1791 | |
| Preceded by | (none) |
| Succeeded by | John Rutherfurd |
| Surrogate of Cumberland County | |
| In office 1784–1802 | |
| Trustee ofThe College of New Jersey | |
| In office 1782–1795 | |
| High Sheriff of Cumberland County | |
| In office 1772–1775 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1745-11-29)November 29, 1745 |
| Died | September 3, 1817(1817-09-03) (aged 71) |
| Resting place | Old Broad Street Presbyterian Church Cemetery |
| Party | Federalist Party |
| Relations | Ebenezer Elmer (brother) Lucius Elmer (nephew) |
| Alma mater | University of Pennsylvania (BM,MD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Colonies |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | American Revolutionary War |
Jonathan Elmer (November 29, 1745 – September 3, 1817) was an Americanpolitician, of the Pro-Administration (Federalist) Party.
Jonathan Elmer was born inCedarville,New Jersey, in 1745. He was the son of Reverend Daniel Elmer and Abigail (Lawrence) Elmer. He was privately tutored until 1765, when he began attendance in the first class of medical students at theUniversity of Pennsylvania. He received the degree of bachelor of medicine in 1768, and 1771 he received his doctor of medicine degree, the first awarded by anAmerican university.
Elmer practiced medicine inBridgeton and became active in government and politics. From 1772 to 1775, he served assheriff ofCumberland County. During theAmerican Revolutionary War he was a militia officer and attained the rank of captain as commander of a company.[1] He was elected to theAmerican Philosophical Society in 1774.[2]
Elmer was a delegate to theContinental Congress three times: 1777 to 1778, 1781 to 1783, and 1787 to 1788. In 1780 and 1784 he representedCumberland County in theNew Jersey Legislative Council. The College of New Jersey (now known asPrinceton University) made Elmer atrustee in 1782. He served in that position until 1795. TheNew Jersey Legislature appointed Elmer to theUnited States Senate for the term of March 4, 1789 to March 3, 1791. He was later a candidate for theU.S. House of Representatives in 1792,[3] and unsuccessfully attempted to return to the U.S. Senate twice in 1798.[4][5]
His health declined after that, and Elmer died in 1817, and he was interred inOld Broad Street Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Bridgeton.
In 1769, Elmer married Mary Seeley, the daughter of Colonel Ephraim Seeley of Bridgeton. They were the parents of eight children.
Elmer's younger brother,Ebenezer Elmer, and Ebenezer's sonLucius Elmer were members of theUnited States House of Representatives.
| U.S. Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by none | U.S. senator (Class 1) from New Jersey 1789–1791 Served alongside:William Paterson,Philemon Dickinson | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
