Background
Halstead, William was born on June 4, 1794 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States. Son of graduate Princeton, 1812.
United States representative lawyer politician
Halstead, William was born on June 4, 1794 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States. Son of graduate Princeton, 1812.
He graduated from Princeton College in 1812, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1816 and commenced practice in Trenton, New Jersey.
He was appointed reporter of the New Jersey Supreme Court on November 23, 1821, and served until 1832. He published seven volumes of Halstead’s Law Reports. He was prosecuting attorney of Hunterdon County from 1824–1829 and 1833-1837.
Halstead was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-fifth Congress, serving from March 4, 1837-March 3, 1839.
He presented credentials as a Member-elect to the Twenty-sixth Congress but the House declined to seat him. He was elected to the Twenty-seventh Congress, serving from March 4, 1841-March 3, 1843.
He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Elections in the Twenty-seventh Congress. After leaving congress, he was appointed by President Zachary Taylor as United States. Attorney for the District of New Jersey and served from 1849 to 1853.
He raised the 1st New Jersey Volunteer Cavalry during the American Civil War and served as its colonel until February 18, 1862.
He retired from public life and died in Trenton on March 4, 1878, and was interred there in Riverview Cemetery. This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Member United States House of Representatives (Whig) from New Jersey, 25th, 27th congresses, 1837-1839, 41-43.