John P. Stockton
| John Potter Stockton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Senator from New Jersey | |
|
In office March 15, 1865 – March 27, 1866 | |
| Preceded by | John C. Ten Eyck |
| Succeeded by | Alexander G. Cattell |
|
In office March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1875 | |
| Preceded by | Frederick T. Frelinghuysen |
| Succeeded by | Theodore F. Randolph |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
August 2, 1826 Princeton, New Jersey |
| Died |
January 22, 1900 (aged 73) New York City, New York |
| Political party | Democratic |
John Potter Stockton (August 2, 1826 – January 22, 1900) was a New Jersey politician who served in the United States Senate as a Democrat.
Born in Princeton, New Jersey, Stockton was the son of Robert F. Stockton, grandson of Richard Stockton (1764-1828) and the great-grandson of Richard Stockton (1730-1781), both prominent New Jersey politicians. He graduated from Princeton University, then known as the College of New Jersey, where he studied law.
Stockton's first foray into politics was as US Minister to the Papal States (1858–1861). After returning to New Jersey to practice law for four years, he was elected to the Senate. His first tenure lasted barely a year before he voted against the proposition of the Fourteenth Amendment, which failed to pass the Senate by one vote.
In response, the Senate passed a motion, by a majority of one, to unseat him even though the constitution specified that a two-thirds majority was required to expel a Senator. The inventive response to this was that the Senate was unseating him retroactively, which was claimed to be quite distinct from expulsion.
The outrage caused by this led to New Jersey rescinding its ratification of the Amendment, in protest of his arbitrary removal. He returned to the Senate, this time for a full six-year term, in 1869. Stockton served as New Jersey Attorney General from 1877 to 1897.
Stockton died in New York City in 1900 at the age of 73. He was interred in Princeton Cemetery, in the Princeton, New Jersey.
External links
- United States Congress. "John Potter Stockton (id: S000939)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- John Potter Stockton at The Political Graveyard
- John Potter Stockton at Find a Grave
| United States Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John C. Ten Eyck |
U.S. Senator (Class 2) from New Jersey 1865–1866 Served alongside: William Wright |
Succeeded by Alexander G. Cattell |
| Preceded by Frederick T. Frelinghuysen |
U.S. Senator (Class 1) from New Jersey 1869–1875 Served alongside: Alexander G. Cattell, Frederick T. Frelinghuysen |
Succeeded by Theodore F. Randolph |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by Jacob Vanatta |
New Jersey Attorney General 1877–1897 |
Succeeded by Samuel H. Grey |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by Lewis Cass, Jr. |
United States Ambassador (as Minister Resident) to the Papal States 1858–1861 |
Succeeded by Alexander Randall |
