Richard Stockton Field

Richard Stockton Field (December 31, 1803 – May 25, 1870) was an Attorney General of New Jersey, a United States senator from New Jersey and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Richard Stockton Field
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
In office
January 14, 1863 – April 25, 1870
Appointed byAbraham Lincoln
Preceded byPhilemon Dickerson
Succeeded byJohn T. Nixon
United States Senator
from New Jersey
In office
November 21, 1862 – January 14, 1863
Appointed byCharles Smith Olden
Preceded byJohn Renshaw Thomson
Succeeded byJames Walter Wall
Personal details
Born
Richard Stockton Field

(1803-12-31)December 31, 1803
Burlington County, New Jersey, US
DiedMay 25, 1870(1870-05-25) (aged 66)
Princeton, New Jersey, US
Resting placePrinceton Cemetery
Political partyRepublican
RelativesRichard Stockton (1730–1781)
Richard Stockton (1764–1828)
Richard Field Conover
EducationPrinceton University
read law

Education and career

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Born on December 31, 1803, at White Hill Mansion in Burlington County, New Jersey,[1] Field moved with his mother to Princeton, New Jersey in 1810,[2] graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1821, and read law in 1825.[1] He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in Salem, New Jersey from 1825 to 1832.[1] He was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly from 1833 to 1834, and in 1837.[1] He resumed private practice in Princeton, New Jersey from 1834 to 1838.[1] He was Attorney General of New Jersey from 1838 to 1841.[1] He again resumed private practice in Princeton from 1842 to 1847.[1] He was a member of the New Jersey constitutional convention in 1844.[2] He was a Professor for the law department of Princeton University from 1847 to 1855.[1] He then resumed private practice in Princeton from 1855 to 1862.[1]

Congressional service

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Field was appointed as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Senator John Renshaw Thomson and served from November 21, 1862, to January 14, 1863, when a successor was elected.[2] He was not a candidate for election in 1863.[2]

Federal judicial service

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Field was nominated by President Abraham Lincoln on January 14, 1863, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey vacated by Judge Philemon Dickerson.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 14, 1863, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated on April 25, 1870, due to his resignation.[1]

Death

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Field died on May 25, 1870, in Princeton.[1] He was interred in Princeton Cemetery.[2]

Family

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Field was the great-grandson of Richard Stockton, a New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress, and grandson of Richard Stockton, a United States senator from New Jersey.[2] In 1831, Field married Mary Ritchie.[citation needed] They were the parents of Helen Field Conover, the wife of Francis Stevens Conover and mother of Richard Field Conover; Colonel Edward Field, a veteran of the American Civil War and career Army officer; and Annis Thomson, the wife of Professor Charles McMillen.[citation needed]

Civic endeavors

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Field was a founder of the New Jersey Historical Society, and served as its president.[citation needed] He was a founder of the State Normal School, now known as The College of New Jersey, and served as president of its board of trustees.[citation needed] In addition, Field was a founder of the Farnham School in Beverly, New Jersey, which served as a preparatory school for prospective students of the State Normal School.[citation needed]

Honors

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In 1859, Princeton University conferred on Field the honorary degree of LL.D.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Richard Stockton Field at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  2. ^ a b c d e f United States Congress. "Richard Stockton Field (id: F000106)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

Sources

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U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. senator (Class 1) from New Jersey
1862–1863
Served alongside: John C. Ten Eyck
Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by New Jersey Attorney General
1838–1841
Succeeded by
Preceded by Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
1863–1870
Succeeded by