Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/50

 STOCKTON

STOCKTON

" Welcome mighty chief, once more! " and vari- ous periodical contributions. Richard Stockton published An Expedient for the Settleineiit of American Disputes, addressed to Lord Dart- month (Dec.l2, 1774). He died at " Morven," the family estate, near Princeton, N. J., Feb. 2y, 1781.

STOCKTON, Richard, senator, was born at '•Morven," near Princetuii. N.J., April 17, 17GI; son of Richard (1730-1781) and Annis (Boudinot) Stockton. He was graduated from the College of New Jersey, A.B., 1779, A.M.. 1782; studied law under liis uncle. Dr. Elias Boudinot (q.v.); was admitted to the bar in 1784. and commenced practice in Princeton. He was a presidential elector on the Wasliington and Adams ticket in 1792; was elected by the Federalists, U.S. senator from New Jersey, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Frederick Frelinghuj'sen, serv- ing from 1796 to 1799, when he declined re-elec- tion; was again presidential elector in 1801, on the Adams and Pinckney ticket, and member of the state leislature, 1813-15, during which term he carried on a memorable debate with Charles J. IngersoU on free-trade and sailors' rights. In 1827 he was appointed a commissioner for set- tling the boundarv-line between New York and New Jersey, the learned argument included in the report of the commission being the produc- tion of his pen. He was a trustee of the College of New Jersey, 1791-1828, and received the hon- orary degree of LL.D. from Queen's (now Rut- gers) college. New Brunswick. N.J., in 1815, and from Union college. Schenectady, N.Y., in 1816. He die<l in Princeton. N.J.. March 7, 1828.

STOCKTON, Robert Field, naval officer, was born in Princeton, N.J., Aug. 20, 1795; son of Richard Stockton, .senator (q.v.). He matricu- lated at the College of New Jersey, but was not graduated; entered the U.S. army as midshiji- man, Sept. 1, 1811; cruised in the flagship Presi- dent, Atlantic home squadron, Com. John Rodg- ers. in 1812. winning the soubriquet of "fighting Bob "; served as aide to the secretary of the navy at Washington, D.C., and having again joined Commodore Rodgers, participated in the defence of Baltimore, Md., June, 1814, being promoted lieutenant for his gallantry, Sept. 9, 1814. Dur- ing the war with the Barbarj' powers, he served first as junior lieutenant on the Guerriere, Com- modore Decatur's flagship, and subsequently as 1st lieutenant on the schooner .S/J?7/?re, taking part in the capture of the Algerine frigate Mishonri, June 17. 1815, and of the brig Estedio, a, {evr days following. In 1816 he again cruised the Mediter- ranean as 7th lieutenant on the Wasliington, Commodore Chauncey's squadron; was promoted 2d lieutenant and subsequently 1st lieutenant of the Erie, rfturning to the United States in 1821; was transferred soon after to the command of the

schooner Alligator, and under the auspices of the American Colonization society, visited the west coast of Africa, where, in 1822, he founded a col- ony at Cape Mesurado, which became in 1847 the republic of Liberia. He subsequently captured the Portuguese letter-of-manpie Marrianna Flora, and the French slaver Jeune Eugenie; was ordered to the West Indies to check the depre- dations of tiie pirates, and surveyed the southern coast, 1823-24, during which time he was mar- ried to Maria, daughter of John Potter, of Charleston, S.C. He obtained leave of absence from 1826-38, and made his home in Princeton, N.J., where he established a newspaper, to which he contributed editorials, stating that his supi>(>rt of President Adams would be based upon the hit- ter's "good behavior in office," an independent political attitude which he continued to maintain throughout Ids career. He was a delegate to the Democratic state convention of 1826, in which he took an active part; was the founder and first president of the New Jersey Colonization society, and chief promoter of the Delaware and Raritan canal, visiting Europe to obtain a loan for its completion. He served as executive officer of the flagship Ohio, Mediterranean squadron, Com. Isaac Hull, Dec. 8, 1838-39, bearing official de- spatches to Great Britain, where he investigated the improvements in naval architecture; was promoted post-captain, 1839; supported Gen. William Henry Harrison for the Presidency in 1840, and declined the portfolio of the navy of- fered him by President Tyler in 1841. He was one of the first commanders to apply steam to naval purposes, building, in 1842-44, the famous sloop-of-war Princeton, of which he was placed in command. On the trial trip down the Potomac river, Feb. 28, 1844, through the accidental ex- plosion of one of the guns, opposite Mt. Vernon, Abel P. Upshur, secretary of state, Thomas W. Gilmer, secretarj' of the navy, and David Gardi- ner, father-in-law of President Tyler, were killed, as well as several of the crew, while Com- modore Stockton and others were severely in- jured. Later in the same year he was appointed to carry the annexation resolutions to the govern- ment of Texas, and sailed in the Princeton; was promoted commander-in-chief of the Pacific squadron, October, 1845, and sailed in the frigate Congress with Mr. Ten E^'ck, commissioner, from Norfolk, Va., around Cape Horn, to tlieSandwicli Islands, and finally to Monterey, Cal., of which place Com. John D. Sloat, U.S.N., had taken possession, July 7, 1846. On July 23, 1846, Com- modore Stockton was given command by proc- lamation, of the entire American force on the Pacific coast, and in co-operation with Col. John C. Fremont, capture<l Los Angeles. Aug. 13. 1846: established a civil government for the state, ap-