Joel Parker

Joel Parker.

Joel Parker (November 24, 1816  – January 2, 1888) was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 20th Governor of New Jersey from 1863–1866 and from 1871-1874.

Early life, family

Born near Freehold Township, New Jersey to Charles and Sarah (Coward) Parker, he attended the College of New Jersey (later known as Princeton University), graduating in the class of 1839. He worked in the law office of Henry W. Green and was admitted to the bar in 1842. He married Maria Mott-Gummere in 1843 and the couple had two sons and a daughter.

Political career

A Democrat, he was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1847, where he served until 1851 when he was appointed the "prosecutor of pleas" of Monmouth County. He continued to be active in politics and served as a New Jersey elector in the 1860 presidential election, casting his vote for Stephen A. Douglas.

In 1860, New Jersey Governor Charles Smith Olden appointed Parker Major General of the New Jersey militia.

Governor, first term

He was nominated for Governor by the Democratic Party in 1862, and ran as a "War Democrat" who supported a military solution to the American Civil War rather than accommodation of the Confederacy. He defeated Marcus L. Ward by the largest margin in State history up to that time.

Although staunchly in favor of the war, Parker was also highly critical of the Lincoln Administration's actions with respect to curtailing civil liberties in the name of the war effort, castigating Lincoln for suspending habeas corpus and for what Parker considered the unconstitutional nature of the Emancipation Proclamation.

In 1863, Parker attended the ceremonies dedicating the Soldiers' National Cemetery at which Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address.

He was the "favorite son" candidate supported by New Jersey electors at the Democratic National Conventions in 1868, 1876, and 1884.

Parker was re-elected Governor in 1871 and served until 1874. He was then Attorney General of New Jersey in 1875 and later served as a justice on the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1880-1888.

After serving as Governor, Parker returned to the practice of law.

He died on January 2, 1888 in New York City. He was buried in Maplewood Cemetery, in Freehold Township, New Jersey.

See also

• List of Governors of New Jersey

External links

• Biography of Joel Parker, New Jersey State Library
• New Jersey Governor Joel Parker, National Governors Association
• Political Graveyard information for Joel Parker
• Dead Governors of New Jersey bio for Joel Parker
• Joel Parker at Find a Grave

Political offices
Preceded by Charles S. Olden	Governor of New Jersey January 20, 1863 – January 16, 1866	Succeeded by Marcus Lawrence Ward
Preceded by Theodore Fitz Randolph	Governor of New Jersey January 16, 1872 – January 19, 1875	Succeeded by Joseph D. Bedle
Party political offices
Preceded by Edwin R. V. Wright	Democratic Nominee for Governor of New Jersey 1862	Succeeded by Theodore Runyon
Preceded by Theodore Fitz Randolph	Democratic Nominee for Governor of New Jersey 1871	Succeeded by Joseph D. Bedle
Legal offices
Preceded by Robert Gilchrist, Jr.	New Jersey Attorney General 1875	Succeeded by Jacob Vanatta
Preceded by unknown	New Jersey Supreme Court Associate Justice 1880–1888	Succeeded by Charles G. Garrison