Background
Sergeant, John was born on December 5, 1779 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Jonathan Dickinson and Margaret (Spencer) Sergeant.
Sergeant, John was born on December 5, 1779 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Jonathan Dickinson and Margaret (Spencer) Sergeant.
Graduated from College of New Jersey (now Princeton), 1795.
Admitted to Philadelphia bar, 1799. Deputy attorney general for Chester County (Pennsylvania) and Philadelphia, 1800. Commissioner bankruptcy for Pennsylvania, 1801.
Member Pennsylvania Legislature, 1808-1810, Chairman of Commission on roads and inland navigation. Member United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania, 14th-17th, 20th, 25th-26th congresses, October 10, 1815-1823, 27-29, 37-September 15, 1841. Gave important legal and political counsel to 2d Bank of the United States, undertook diplomatic mission to London bankers, 1816, influenced Biddle to apply for renewal of bank’s charter, often represented bank before Supreme Court of the United States Court.
President Pennsylvania Board Canal Commissioners 1825-1826. Member Panama Congress of 1826. National-Republican candidate for vice president United States, 1832.
President Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention, 1837-1838. Won cases including Girard Will Case. Cases conducted before Supreme Court include Osborn versus United States Bank, Worcester versus Georgia.
Collected speeches into Select Speeches of John Sergeant of Pennsylvania, 1832.
Member Pennsylvania Legislature, 1808-1810, Chairman of Commission on roads and inland navigation. Member United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania, 14th-17th, 20th, 25th-26th congresses, October 10, 1815-1823, 27-29, 37-September 15, 1841. Member Panama Congress of 1826.
Fellow: Royal Institute British Architects; Leander Club
Married Margaretta Watmough, June 23, 1813, 10 children.