A History of New Jersey Governors
New Jersey Governors from 1860 to 1898.
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Charles S. Olden 1860-1863 Mobilized state forces at start of the Civil War. Built the governor’s mansion Drumthwacket. |
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Joel Parker 1863-1866 and 1872-1875 Parker, very active in politics also served in the NJ General Assembly (1847-1851), Monmouth County “Prosecutor of Pleas” (1851-1860), NJ Elector in the 1860 Presidential Election, Major General to the NJ Militia (1860), Attorney General of New Jersey (1875) and justice to the NJ Supreme Court (1880-1888). |
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Marcus L. Ward 1866-1869 Served as a delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention and was the chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1866 to 1868. Ward served a single term in the US House of Representatives from 1873-1875. |
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Theodore F. Randolph 1869-1872 Served in the United States Senate for a single term, from 1875-1881. Randolph is also known for inventing a stitching machine and a steam typewriter. He was the son of US Representative James F. Randolph. |
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Joseph D. Bedle 1875-1878 Prior to his term as Governor, Bedle served as a delegate in the 1864 Democratic National Convention and as an associate justice to the New Jersey Supreme Court. |
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George B. McClellan 1878-1881 McClellan was a major general during the Civil War. He organized the famous Army of the Potomac and served briefly as the general-in-chief of the Union Army. In 1864 he became the Democratic Party Presidential Nominee who ran against President Abraham Lincoln. |
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George C. Ludlow 1881-1884 Won the closest gubernatorial election in NJ history. Tried to implement a railroad tax. Called for government oversight of jails and water supply. |
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Leon Abbett 1884-1887 and 1890-1893 Abbett also served in the New Jersey General Assembly, New Jersey State Senate and as an associate justice in the New Jersey Supreme Court. |
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Robert S. Green 1887-1890 Green was a Representative in the US Congress from 1885-1887, when he stepped down to serve as Governor of New Jersey. Green was also delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1860, 1880 and 1888. He served as a judge in the New Jersey Supreme Court in 1894 and 1895. |
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George T. Werts 1893-1896 Werts created the Palisades Interstate Park Commission which saved the New Jersey Palisades from being quarried for their rock. |
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John W. Griggs 1896-1898 He left the state house after only two years to become the US Attorney General under President William McKinley. Griggs served in the NJ General Assembly and the NJ Senate where he was president of the Senate in 1886. He was also a delegate to the 1888 Republican National Convention. |