William Pennington

Following a disputed election for Congressional Representatives in New Jersey Pennington certified the election of five Whig candidates while five Democrats were certified by the Democratic Secretary of State. Born in Newark New Jersey he graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1813 and then studied law with Theodore Frelinghuysen. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1860 to the 37th Congress.

William Pennington (May 4 1796 – February 16 1862) was an American politician and lawyer the Governor of New Jersey and Speaker of the House during his one term in Congress. He was elected as a Republican to the 36th Congress to represent New Jersey's 5th congressional district. He was admitted to the bar in 1817 and served as a clerk of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (where his father was a judge) from 1817 to 1826.