Biography Robert F. Stockton

1 biography

1.1 naval service
1.2 business affairs
1.3 resumes active naval service
1.4 mexican–american war
1.5 political pursuits

biography

coat of arms of robert f. stockton

robert f. stockton born @ morven, stockton street, princeton, new jersey, political family; father richard stockton u.s. senator , representative, , grandfather, judge richard stockton attorney general new jersey , signer of declaration of independence. robert f. stockton of english descent, , family had been in united states since colonial period.

early naval service

stockton appointed midshipman in u.s. navy in september 1811, shortly after 16th birthday, , served @ sea , ashore during war of 1812. after conflict, lieutenant stockton assigned ships operating in mediterranean, in caribbean , off coast of west africa. first naval officer act against slave trade , captured several slave ships. stockton along dr. eli ayers of american colonization society negotiated treaty led founding of state of liberia. 1 source describes leveled pistol @ king peter s head , thereby convinced latter sell of territory .

business affairs

during later 1820s , 1830s, devoted attention business affairs in new jersey. in addition, stockton owned , operated tellurim gold mine in orange county, virginia, beginning @ earliest in 1832. birth of son john p. stockton, later u.s. senator representing new jersey, occurred during time.

in 1835, purchased property in monmouth county, new jersey, called sea girt . property purchased in 1875 group of land developers, name of stockton s estate leading choice of name sea girt, new jersey, when borough established in 1918.

cdre. robert f. stockton


resumes active naval service

in 1838, stockton resumed active naval service captain. served in european area, took leave in 1840 undertake political work. offered post of u.s. secretary of navy president john tyler in 1841, declined offer, worked gain support construction of advanced steam warship battery of heavy guns.

this ship became uss princeton, navy s first screw-propelled steamer. ship designed john ericsson. stockton commanded when completed in 1843. ship armed 2 long 225 pound wrought iron guns, called peacemaker , oregon . although deviser of defective gun, captain stockton s political influence allowed him absolved of responsibility february 1844 explosion of gun, peacemaker, on board ship. explosion killed 2 cabinet secretaries , several others.

cleared court of wrongdoing in explosion incident, stockton sent president james k. polk texas. stockton carried him polk s offer annex texas, sailing on princeton , arriving in galveston. stockton s observations while in texas made him aware of looming war mexico, fact communicated directly polk once arrived in washington. no vessel during mexican war more useful princeton in gulf of mexico. records of navy department showed performed more service rest of gulf squadron put together.

mexican–american war

conquest of california

on july 23, 1846, commodore stockton arrived in monterey, california, , took on command ailing commodore john d. sloat of pacific squadron of u.s. naval forces in pacific ocean. commodore sloat had raised flag, without resistance, @ monterey, had no plan conduct further military operations on shore , once relieved, sailed home united states, leaving commodore stockton in command of forces. stockton s command ship uss congress , combined fleet of 3 frigates 480 men each, 1 ship of line 780 men , 4 sloops 200 men each 3 storeships made him strongest force in california senior military commander. main driving force in continuing take possession of alta california.

on august 11, 1846, commodore stockton marched on pueblo de los angeles meet in battle general castro s army. upon learning of imminent arrival of commodore stockton, castro retired, leaving behind artillery , made off in direction of sonora. after these events stockton dispatched courier (the celebrated kit carson) inform washington of proceedings , details of conquest of california.

on december 6, 1846, stockton learned general stephen kearny had arrived in california small force , besieged vastly superior enemy forces @ battle of san pasqual. kearny among wounded , in command of 60 weary dragoons mounted on tired mules in perilous position , under attack californio-mexican cavalry force under andrés pico. commodore stockton s immediate decision take personal command of relief column, outcome have been disastrous kearny.

later, combined forces consolidated control on san diego, , in january 1847 won minor skirmishes @ battle of rio san gabriel , battle of la mesa taking control of los angeles. faced approximate 400 men under john c. fremont s california battalion stockton , kearny s troops, californios sued peace , signed treaty of cahuenga, ending fighting in alta california. stockton, senior military authority , u.s. military governor of california territory, authorized john c. fremont s appointment succeed him military governor , commander of california battalion militia force. when general kearny arrived orders assume control of temporary government stockton turned on control kearny.

political pursuits

stockton resigned navy in may 1850 , returned business , political pursuits. in 1851 elected democrat new jersey united states senate, sponsored bill abolish flogging navy punishment. resigned on january 10, 1853, serve president of delaware , raritan canal company, position held until 1866.

he delegate unsuccessful peace conference of 1861 attempted settle secession crisis; instead american civil war began later year. in 1863, appointed command new jersey militia when confederate army invaded pennsylvania. stockton died @ princeton, new jersey, in october 1866, , buried in princeton cemetery.