Dickinson, Philemon, 1739-1809

Philemon Dickinson (April 5, 1739 – February 4, 1809) was an American lawyer and politician from Trenton, New Jersey. As a brigadier general of the New Jersey militia, he was one of the most effective militia officers of the American Revolutionary War. He was also a Continental Congressman from Delaware and a United States Senator from New Jersey.

Born at Croisadore in Talbot County in the Province of Maryland, he moved with his family to Dover, Delaware as a child. He was educated by a private tutor in Dover until he went to the University of Pennsylvania, from where he graduated in 1759. He then studied law, and was admitted to the bar, but never practiced. Dickinson served as an officer during the American Revolutionary War, rising to the rank of Major General in the New Jersey Militia. At the beginning of the Revolutionary War in 1775 he was commissioned a colonel of the Hunterdon County militia. In 1776 he was elected as a delegate to New Jersey's Revolutionary provincial congress. In January 1777 Dickinson led 400 of his militia in a raid on a British foraging party near Somerset Court House, New Jersey, capturing about forty wagons of supplies and several prisoners. In June 1777 he was appointed major general in command of all New Jersey militia, a post he held throughout the rest of the war.

In 1782 and 1783, he represented Delaware at the Continental Congress. In 1783 and 1784 he was elected to the New Jersey Legislative Council from Hunterdon County where he served as Vice-President of Council both years. He was a member of the commission that selected the site for the national capital in Washington, D.C. in 1784. When William Paterson resigned from the United States Senate, Dickinson was chosen by New Jersey to finish Paterson's term. He served in the senate from November 13, 1790 to March 3, 1793. After his service in Congress, he returned to look after his estates until he died on February 4, 1809 at his home, and was buried at Friends Burying Ground in Trenton.