James W. Patterson

James Willis Patterson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Hampshire's 3rd district
In office March 4, 1863 – March 4, 1867
Preceded by	Thomas M. Edwards
Succeeded by	Jacob Benton
United States Senator from New Hampshire
In office March 4, 1867 – March 4, 1873
Preceded by	George G. Fogg
Succeeded by	Bainbridge Wadleigh
Personal details
Born	(1823-07-02)July 2, 1823 Henniker, New Hampshire
Died	May 4, 1893(1893-05-04) (aged 69) Hanover, New Hampshire
Political party	Republican
Alma mater	Dartmouth College

James Willis Patterson (July 2, 1823 – May 4, 1893) was a United States Representative and Senator from New Hampshire.

Biography

Born in Henniker, he pursued classical studies, graduated from Dartmouth College in 1848, and was principal of the Woodstock Academy in Connecticut for two years. He attended the Theological Seminary at New Haven, Connecticut, studied law, and was a professor of mathematics, astronomy, and meteorology at Dartmouth College from 1854 to 1865.

Patterson was a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 1862, and was elected as a Republican to the Thirty-eighth and Thirty-ninth Congresses (March 4, 1863 - March 4, 1867). He was elected to the U.S. Senate and served from March 4, 1867, to March 4, 1873; while in the Senate he was chairman of the Committee on Enrolled Bills (Forty-first Congress) and a member of the Committee on the District of Columbia (Forty-first and Forty-second Congresses). He was a regent of the Smithsonian Institution and in 1877-1878 was again a member of the State house of representatives. He was State superintendent of public instruction from 1881 to 1893, and president of American Institute of Instruction. He died in Hanover, New Hampshire, in 1893; interment was in Dartmouth Cemetery.

References

• James W. Patterson at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved on 2009-5-12

United States Senate
Preceded by George G. Fogg	United States Senator (Class 3) from New Hampshire 1867–1873 Served alongside: Aaron H. Cragin	Succeeded by Bainbridge Wadleigh
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Thomas M. Edwards	U.S. Representative for the 3rd District of New Hampshire March 4, 1863–March 3, 1867	Succeeded by Jacob Benton