William Augustus Newell | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Newellc. 1860–65 | |
| 11thGovernor of Washington Territory | |
| In office November 1, 1880 – July 2, 1884 | |
| Preceded by | Elisha P. Ferry |
| Succeeded by | Watson C. Squire |
| 18th Governor of New Jersey | |
| In office January 20, 1857 – January 17, 1860 | |
| Preceded by | Rodman M. Price |
| Succeeded by | Charles S. Olden |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew Jersey's 2nd district | |
| In office March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1867 | |
| Preceded by | George Middleton |
| Succeeded by | Charles Haight |
| In office March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1851 | |
| Preceded by | George Sykes |
| Succeeded by | Charles Skelton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1817-09-05)September 5, 1817 Franklin, Ohio |
| Died | August 8, 1901(1901-08-08) (aged 83) Allentown, New Jersey |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Whig Opposition Republican |
| Spouse | Joanna Van Deursen |
| Education | Rutgers College |
| Signature | .png) |
William Augustus Newell (September 5, 1817 – August 8, 1901), was an American physician and politician who served as the 18thGovernor of New Jersey and 11th Governor of theWashington Territory.
He also represented New Jersey for three terms in theUnited States House of Representatives, where he is probably best known for theNewell Act, which created theUnited States Life-Saving Service, afederal agency established to save the lives of shipwrecked mariners and passengers.
William Augustus Newell was born inFranklin, Ohio, the son of James Newell and Elisa Hankinson. His grandfather, Hugh Newell, came from Ireland in 1704.[1] His parents, from old New Jersey families, moved back to New Jersey when he was two years old.
He graduated fromRutgers College in 1836 and theUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1839. He practiced medicine in theManahawkin section ofStafford Township and was one of the local volunteers to rescue shipwrecks acrossBarnegat Bay.[2] The frustrating experience of watching a ship full of passengers perish because the volunteers could not reach them that he first thought of creating a life-saving service.[1]
He later moved toAllentown,[1] where he first entered public office as tax collector forUpper Freehold Township. In an interview to a reporter later in life, he said he "was never so proud of his life as when he received his certificate of that office."[1]
In 1846, Newell was elected as aWhig to theThirtiethUnited States Congress.
During his first term, he added a single line to an appropriations bill allocating $10,000 for equipment to be used for responding to ships in distress close to shore. As a result of this appropriation, a series of light house stations were set up in New Jersey betweenSandy Hook andLittle Egg Harbor. Each station was equipped with a cannon that could shoot a line out to a ship for aiding in rescue efforts. The service was extended fromLong Island toCape May, and after rescuing 200 passengers and crew members from the Scottish brigAyrshire, it was extended over the entireEast Coast. Sometimes erroneously referred to as the Newell Act, this appropriation was a predecessor to theUnited States Life-Saving Service and today forms a major part of theUnited States Coast Guard.[3]
He was re-elected in 1848 but did not stand for re-election in 1850.
He also served on multiple committees. He served on the Foreign Affairs and Revolutionary Claims committees.[1]
As the Whig Party declined, the opposition to theDemocratic Party consisted of thenativistAmerican Party and the anti-slaveryRepublican Party, united in an attempt to defeat the powerful Democratic Party. As a former Whig who was also opposed the extension of slavery, Newell was nominated for Governor at a joint convention in 1856.[4] He won by just 3,000 votes over Democratic candidateWilliam Cowper Alexander, but Democrats won most of the seats in the legislature.
As governor, he urged lower taxes and balanced budgets, improvements in the school system, stricter naturalization procedures, restrictions on suffrage of naturalized citizens, and improvements to education and life-saving systems.
Late in his first year as Governor, Newell was involved in a major controversy over the execution of James P. Donnelly, an Irish Catholic medical student sentenced to death by a Protestant judge and jury. Donnelly, from aNew York City, was convicted of murdering Alfred S. Moses and sentenced to death inMonmouth County. His conviction became acause célèbre toIrish Catholics in New Jersey, who viewed the evidence as doubtful and viewed the composition of the court as evidence of bias.
After Donnelly's appeals ran out, he sought commutation to a life sentence. While the Court of Pardons, on which the Governor satex officio, voted 6 to 2 against a commutation, Newell claimed to have cast the deciding vote for execution.
Newell attended theRepublican National Conventions in1860 and1864. PresidentAbraham Lincoln appointed Newell to the Life-Saving Service of New Jersey.
In 1864, he was re-elected to the House of Representatives on a platform of support for the war. In 1866 he was defeated for re-election in part because of his nativist ties and his role in the Donnelly case.[citation needed] He unsuccessfully sought the nomination for Congress in 1868 and was nominated once again in 1870 but lost.
He ran for governor again in 1877 but lost to Civil War generalGeorge B. McClellan. Again, his role in the Donnelly case was an issue, particularly in IrishJersey City.[citation needed]
In 1880, PresidentRutherford B. Hayes appointed Newell to be thegovernor of Washington Territory. He supported many of the same policies he did while he was governor of New Jersey: strengthening life-saving systems on thePacific Ocean, lower taxes, temperance, and forced acculturation of Native Americans. He served until 1884, and then was United States Indian inspector for a year. He then resumed the practice of medicine, this time inOlympia, and remained there 14 more years. While living in Olympia, he was elected mayor.
In 1899, at the age of 82, he returned to Allentown, continuing the practice of medicine, and took an active role in the Monmouth County Historical Association.
Newell married Joanna VanDusen fromNew Brunswick.[1] They had three sons and a daughter, with one son dying in early childhood.
He died at his home in Allentown on August 8, 1901, after a brief illness.[1] Following his death, GovernorFoster McGowan Voorhees draped the State House in black as a show of mourning. Helay in state at the State House in Trenton for three days, and his body was interred in a vault in Greenwood Cemetery before being moved to his family plot at Allentown Presbyterian Cemetery.[1]
An on-campus apartment complex atCook College, the agricultural school ofRutgers University, is named for him.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromNew Jersey's 2nd congressional district March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1851 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromNew Jersey's 2nd congressional district March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1867 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of New Jersey January 20, 1857 – January 17, 1860 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of Washington Territory 1880–1884 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by New political party | Republican Nominee forGovernor of New Jersey 1856 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Republican Nominee forGovernor of New Jersey 1877 | 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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