Stockton, Richard, 1730-1781

Richard Stockton (October 1, 1730 – February 28, 1781) was an American Founding Father, lawyer, jurist, legislator, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Born at the Stockton family home now known as Morven in the Stony Brook neighborhood of Princeton, New Jersey, attended Samuel Finley's academy at Nottingham, which later became West Nottingham Academy, and the College of New Jersey located in Newark, graduating in 1748. He studied law with David Ogden, of Newark, who was at that time the head of the legal profession in the province. Stockton was admitted to the bar in 1754 and soon rose to great distinction. In 1763 he received the degree of sergeant at law, the highest degree of law at that time. He served his alma mater, afterwards known as Princeton University, as a trustee 26 years. In 1774, Stockton was appointed Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

At first taking a moderate stance in the troubles between the American colonies and Great Britain, he eventually came to the cause of independence. In 1776, Stockton was elected to the Second Continental Congress, where he took a very active role. That August, when elections were held for the state governments of the new nation, Stockton and William Livingston each received the same number of votes to be the Governor of New Jersey on the first ballot. Although Livingston later won the election by one vote, Stockton was unanimously elected to serve as the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, but he turned down that position to remain in Congress. Stockton was the first person from New Jersey to sign the Declaration of Independence.

Captured by the British and imprisoned for weeks, Stockton was eventually released on parole, his health battered. When his health permitted, Stockton attempted to earn a living by reopening his law practice and teaching new students. Two years after his parole, he developed cancer of the lip that spread to his throat. Stockton was never free of pain until he died on February 28, 1781, at Morven. He was buried at Stony Brook Quaker Meeting House Burial Ground in Princeton.