DICKERSON, Mahlon, statesman, born in Hanover, New Jersey, 17 April 1770; died in Suckasunny, Norris County, New Jersey, 5 October 1853. He was graduated at Princeton in 1789, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1793, and practiced with success in Philadelphia. In 1805'8 he was quartermaster general of Pennsylvania, and in 1808'10 recorder of the City court of Philadelphia. He returned to New Jersey, became judge of the Supreme Court and chancellor, and was elected a member of the legislature in 1811'13. In 1815 he was elected governor of New Jersey, and at the close of his term was sent to the U. S. Senate. He was repeatedly reelected, serving from 1 December 1817, till 2 March 1833. President Jackson appointed him, on 30 June 1834, secretary of the navy, in which post he was continued by President Van Buren, serving till 30 June 1838, when James K. Paulding succeeded him. He subsequently served for a few months on the bench of the U. S. district court for the district of New Jersey, and was a delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1844. In 1846'8 he was president of the American institute. He was largely interested in the mining and manufacture of iron in Morris County, and, although a state rights democrat, advocated the protective tariff in congress. He published " Speeches in Congress, 1826'46."His brother, Philemon, born in Morris County, New Jersey, in 1788; died in Paterson, New Jersey, 10 December 1862, received a liberal education, studied law, and practiced in Paterson. He served a term in congress in 1833'5, and was reelected, but resigned in 1836 to accept the governorship of New Jersey. In 1838 he was again elected to congress; but his election, as Well as that of the other representatives from New Jersey except one, was contested, and he did not take his seat till 10 March 1840, serving till the following March. He was afterward judge of the United States district court in New Jersey.