William Sanford Pennington
William Sanford Pennington was a United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, an associate justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, the sixth governor of New Jersey and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Early life and military service
Born in 1757, in Newark, Province of New Jersey, British America, His parents were Samuel Pennington and Mary Sandford. He was the namesake of his grandfather William Sandford and great-great-grandson of William Sandford. Pennington likely was trained as a hatter and likely engaged in that profession during his early years. He joined the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. In 1777, he was promoted to sergeant in the Second Regiment of Artillery. He was promoted to second lieutenant in 1780. At the end of the war he was brevetted a captain by an Act of Congress. Pennington served in the New Jersey General Assembly in 1797, 1798, and 1799, was elected to the New Jersey State Council in 1801, and 1802.Education and career
Pennington read law in 1802, with Elias Boudinot. He entered private practice in Newark, New Jersey from 1802 to 1816. He was county clerk for Essex County, New Jersey in 1803. He was the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey from 1803 to 1804. He was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey from 1804 to 1813. He was reporter for the Supreme Court of New Jersey from 1806 to 1813. He was the 6th Governor of New Jersey from 1813 to 1815, elected as a Democratic-Republican in consecutive victories over his Federalist predecessor, Aaron Ogden.Federal judicial service
Pennington received a recess appointment from President James Madison on June 19, 1815, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey vacated by Judge Robert Morris. He was nominated to the same position by President Madison on January 8, 1816. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 9, 1816, and received his commission on January 16, 1816.While serving as a District Court Judge, Pennington published a treatise on small cause courts. His service terminated on September 17, 1826, due to his death in Newark.