STOCKTON, Richard, signer of the Declaration of Independence, born on his estate near Princeton, New Jersey, 1 October, 1730; died there. 28 February, 1781. His. great-grandfather, of the same name, came from England before 1670, and, after residing several years on Long Island, purchased, about 1680, a tract of 6,400 acres of land, of which Princeton, New Jersey, is nearly the centre. About 1682 he and his associates formed a settlement there, and were the first Europeans in the district. Richard's father, John, inherited "Morven," the family-seat, and was for many years chief judge of the court of common pleas of Somerset county. The son was graduated at Princeton in 1748, studied law with David Ogden in Newark, and in 1754 was admitted to the bar, in which he soon attained great reputation. After acquiring a competency, he visited Great Britain in 1766-'7, snaking the acquaintance of many public men and receiving the freedom of the city from the municipal authorities of Edinburgh. He exerted himself especially to remove the prevailing ignorance regarding the American colonies. While he was in Scotland his personal efforts induced Dr. John Witherspoon to reconsider his refusal to become president of Princeton, and for this and other services to the college Mr. Stockton received the for-real thanks of its trustees after his return in September, 1767. In 1768 he was made a member of the executive council of the province, and in 1774 he was raised to the supreme bench of New Jersey. He strove at first to effect a reconciliation between the colonies and the mother country, and on 12 December, 1774, sent to Lord Dartmouth "An Expedient for the Settlement of the American Disputes," in which he proposed a plan of colonial self-government, but tie soon became active in efforts to organize a prudent opposition, and on 21 June, 1776, was chosen by the Provincial congress a member of the Continental congress, then in session in Philadelphia. His silence during the opening debates on the question of independence leads to the conclusion that at first he doubted the expediency of the declaration, but at the close of the discussion he expressed his concurrence in the final vote in a short but energetic address. He was reelected to congress, where he was an active member, and in September, 1776, at the first meeting of the state delegates under the new constitution, was a candidate for governor. On the first ballot he and William Livingston received an equal number of votes, but the latter was finally elected. Mr. Stockton was then chosen chief justice by a unanimous vote, but declined. On 26 September, 1776, he and George Clymer were appointed a committee to inspect the northern army. On 30 November, at night, he was captured by a party of loyalists at the house of John Covenhoven, in Monmouth, New Jersey, which was then his temporary home. His host shared his fate. Mr. Stockton was thrown into the common prison in New York, and treated with unusual severity, which seriously affected his health. Congress passed a resolution directing General Washington to inquire into the circumstance, remonstrate with General Howe, and ask "whether he chooses this shall be the future rule for treating all such, on both sides, as the fortune of war may place in the hands of either party." Mr. Stockton was exchanged shortly afterward, but never regained his health. His library, which was one of the best in the country, had been burned by the British, and his lands were laid waste. His fortune was greatly diminished by these depredations and the depreciation of the Continental currency, and he was compelled to have temporary recourse to the aid of friends. Mr. Stockton, though of a hasty temper and somewhat haughty to those that manifested want of personal respect to him, was a man of great generosity and courtesy. He possessed much courage and agility as a horseman and swordsman. His funeral sermon was delivered in the college hall at Princeton by Reverend Samuel S. Smith, D.D. His statue was placed by the state of New Jersey in the capitol at Washington in 1888. The accompanying vignette is a representation of his residence at Princeton.--His wife, ANNIS, sister of Dr. Elias Boudinot, was well known for her literary attainments, and contributed to periodicals. One of her poems, addressed to Washington after the surrender at Yorktown, drew from him a courtly acknowledgment. She also wrote the stanzas beginning "Welcome, mighty chief, once more!" which were sung by young ladies of Trenton while strewing flowers before General Washington on his passage through that city just before his first inauguration as president. They are given in full in Chief-Justice Marshall's "Life of Washington."--Their son, Richard, senator, born near Princeton, New Jersey, 17 April, 1764; died there, 7 March, 1828, was graduated at Princeton in 1779, studied law in Newark with Elias Boudinot, was admitted to the bar in 1784, and began to practise in his native place. He was a presidential elector in 1792, and in 1796 was chosen to the United States senate as a Federalist for the unexpired term of Frederick Freling-huysen, resigned, serving from 6 December of that year till 3 March, 1799, when he declined to be a candidate for re-election. He served in the lower house of congress in 1813-'15, and again declined further candidacy. During his service in the house of representatives he had a debate with Charles J. Ingersoll, of Philadelphia, on free-trade and sailors' rights. In 1825 he was appointed one of the commissioners on the part of New Jersey to settle a territorial dispute with New York, and he was the author of the able argument that is appended to the report of the New Jersey commissioners. Mr. Stockton possessed profound legal knowledge and much eloquence as an advocate, and for more than a quarter of a century held the highest rank at the bar of his native state. He received the degree of LL.D. from Queen's (now Rutgers) college in 1815, and from Union in 1816. He was often called" The Duke."--The second Richard's son, Robert Field, naval officer, born in Princeton, New Jersey, 20 August, 1795; died there, 7 October, 1866, studied at Princeton college, but before completing his course he entered the United States navy as a midshipman, 1 September, 1811. He joined the frigate "President " at Newport, 14 February, 1812, and made several cruises in that ship with Commander Rodgers, with whom he went as aide to the " Guerriere " at Philadelphia" but, as the ship was unable to go to sea. Rodgers took his crew to assist in defending Baltimore. Before the arrival of the British, Stockton went to Washington and became the aide of the secretary of the navy, after which he resumed his post with Commander Rodgers and took part in the operations at Alexandria. He then went with Rodgers to Baltimore and had command of 300 sailors in the defence of that city against the British army. He was highly commended, and promoted to lieutenant, 9 September, 1814. On 18 May, 1815, he sailed in the "Guerriere," Decatur's flag-ship, for the Mediterranean after the declaration of war with Algiers, but he was transferred soon afterward to the schooner " Spitfire" as 1st lieutenant, in which vessel he participated in the capture of the Algerine frigate " Mahouda," and led the boarders at the capture of the Algerine brig" Esledio "in June, 1815. In February, 1816, he joined the ship-of-the-line "Washington "and made another cruise in the Mediterranean, in the course of which he was transferred to the ship "Erie," of which he soon became executive officer. The American officers very often had disputes with British officers, and frequent duels took place. At ono time in Gibraltar. Stockton had accepted challenges to fight all the captains of the British regiment in the garrison, and several meetings took place. In one case after wounding his adversary he escaped arrest by knocking one of the guard from his horse, which he seized and rode to his boat. Stockton came home in command of the "Erie" in 1821. Shortly after his return the American colonization society obtained his services to command the schooner " Alligator " for the purpose of founding a colony on the west coast of Africa. He sailed in the autumn of 1821, and after skilful diplomatic conferences obtained a concession of a tract of territory near Cape Mesurado, which has since become the republic of Liberia. In November, 1821, the Portuguese letter-of-marque "Mariana Flora" fired on the " Alligator," which she mistook for a pirate. After an engagement of twenty minutes the Portuguese vessel was taken and the capture was declared legal, though the prize was returned by courtesy to Portugal. On a subsequent cruise in the "Alligator" he captured the French slaver " Jeune Eugenie," by which action the right to seize slavers under a foreign flag was first established as legal. He also captured several piratical vessels in the West Indies. From 1826 until December, 1838, he was on leave, and resided at Princeton, New Jersey He organized the New Jersey colonization society, became interested in the turf, and imported from England some of the finest stock of blooded horses. He also took an active part in politics, and became interested in the Delaware and Raritan canal, for which he obtained the charter that had originally been given to a New York company, and vigorously prosecuted the work. His whole fortune and that of his family were invested in the enterprise, which was completed, notwithstanding the opposition of railroads and a financial crisis, by which he was obliged to go to Europe to negotiate a loan. He retained his interest in this canal during his life, and the work stands as an enduring monument to his energy and enterprise. In December, 1838, he sailed with Commander Isaac Hull in the flag-ship " Ohio" as fleet-captain of the Mediterranean squadron, being promoted to captain on 8 December He returned in the latter part of 1839, and took part in the presidential canvass of 1840 in favor of General William Henry Harrison. After John Tyler became president, Stockton was offered a seat in the cabinet as secretary of tile navy, which he declined. The United States steamer "Princeton" (see ERICSSON, JOHN) was built under his supervision, and launched at Philadelphia early in 1844. He was appointed to command the ship, and brought her to Washington for the inspection of officials and members of congress. On a trial-trip down the Potomac river, when the president, cabinet, and a distinguished company were on board, one of the large guns burst and killed the secretary of state, secretary of the navy, the president's father-in-law, and several of the crew, while a great many were seriously injured. A naval court of inquiry entirely exonerated Captain Stockton. Shortly after this event he sailed in the "Princeton" as bearer of the annexation resolutions to the government of Texas. In October, 1845, he went in the frigate "Congress" from Norfolk to serve as commander-in-chief of the Pacific squadron, on the eve of the Mexican war. He sailed around Cape Horn to the Sandwich islands, and thence to Monterey, where he found the squad-ton in possession under Commander John D. Sloat, whom Stockton relieved. News of the war had been received by the squadron before his arrival, and Monterey and San Francisco were captured. Stockton assumed command of all American forces on the coast by proclamation, 23 July, 1846. He organized a battalion of Americans in California and naval brigades from the crews of the ships. Colonel John C. Fremont also co-operated with him. He sent Fremont in the "Cyane" to San Diego, while he landed at Santa Barbara and marched thirty miles with the naval brigade to the Mexican capital of California, the city of Los Angeles, of which he took possession on 13 August He then organized a civil government for the state, and appointed Col Fremont governor. Rumors of a rising of the Indians compelled him to return to the north in September. The force that he left at Los Angeles was besieged by the Mexicans in his absence, and Stockton was obliged to sail to San Diego after finding all quiet in the northern part of California. The Mexicans had also recaptured San Diego. He landed at that place, drove out the enemy, and sent a force to the rescue of General Stephen W. Kearny, who had been defeated by the Mexicans on the way to San Diego. General Kearny, with sixty dragoons, then served under Stockton's orders, and the force proceeded to Los Angeles, 150 miles distant. An engagement took place at San Gabriel on 8 January, 1847, followed by the battle of La Mesa the next day, in which the Mexicans were routed. Colonel Fremont had raised an additional force of Californians, by which the force under Stockton amounted to more than 1,000 men. Negotiations were opened with the Mexican governor, and the entire province of California was ceded to the United States and evacuated by the Mexican authorities. The treaty with Mexico was subsequently confirmed. General Kearny raised a dispute with Stockton for his assumption of command over military forces, but Stockton's course was sustained by virtue of his conquest. On 17 January, 1847. he returned to San Diego, and then sailed to Monterey, where he was relieved by Commander William B. Shubrick. Stockton returned home overland during the summer. He was the recipient of honors by all parties, and the legislature of New Jersey gave him a vote of thanks and a reception. The people of California, in recognition of his services, named for him the city of Stockton, and also one of the principal streets of San Francisco. On 28 May, 1850. he resigned from the navy in order to settle his father-in-law's estate in South Carolina and attend to his private interests. He continued to take part in politics, was elected to the United States senate, and took his seat, I December, 1851, but resigned, 10 January, 1853, and retired to private life. During his brief service in the senate he introduced and advocated the %ill by which flogging was abolished in the navy. He also urged measures for coast defence. After he resigned from the senate he devoted himself to the development of the Delaware and Raritan canal, of which he was president until his death. He continued to take an interest in politics, became an ardent supporter of the" American "party, and was a delegate to the Peace congress that met in Washington, 13 February, 1861. See his "Life and Speeches" (New York, 1856).--Robert Field's son, John Potter, senator, born in Princeton, New Jersey, 2 August, 1826, was graduated at Princeton in 1843, studied law, was licensed to practise as an attorney in 1847, and came to the bar in 1850. He was appointed by the legislature a commissioner to revise and simplify the proceedings and practice in the courts of law of the state, and was for several years afterward reporter to the court of chancery. In 1857 he was appointed United States minister to Rome, but in 1861 he was recalled at his own request. In 1865 he was chosen United States senator from New Jersey by a plurality vote of the legislature, a resolution changing the number necessary to elect from a majority to a plurality having been passed by the joint convention that elected him. On this ground, after he had taken his seat in the senate, several members of the legislature sent to the senate a protest against his retaining it. The committee on the judiciary unanimously reported in favor of the validity of his election, and their report was accepted by a vote of twenty-two to twenty-one, Mr. Stockton voting in the affirmative. His vote was objected to by Charles Sumner, and on the following day, 27 March, 1866, he withdrew it, and was unseated by a vote of twenty-three to twenty-one. He then devoted himself to the practice of his profession, but in 1869 was re-elected to the senate, and served one term till 1875. While in that body he advocated the establishment of lifesaving stations on the coast, and procured on the appropriation bills the first provision for their maintenance. He served on the committees on foreign affairs, the navy, appropriations, patents, and public buildings and grounds; and took part in the debate on reconstruction, and in the discussion of questions of international law. In 1877 he was appointed attorney-general of New Jersey, and he was chosen again in 1882 and 1887. In this office he has sustained by exhaustive arguments the system of railroad taxation, reversing in the court of errors the decisions of the supreme court against the state. Mr. Stockton has been a dele-gate-at-large to all the Democratic National conventions since that of 1864, where, as chairman of the New Jersey delegation, he nominated General George B. McClellan for the presidency. He was also a delegate to tile Unionists' convention at Philadelphia in 1866. Princeton gave him tile degree of LL.D. in 1882. He has published "Equity Reports," being the decisions of the courts of chancery and appeals (3 vols., Trenton, 1856-'60).