20 Facts About Aaron Ogden

Aaron Ogden was an American soldier, lawyer, United States Senator and the fifth governor of New Jersey.

Ogden is perhaps best known today as the complainant in Gibbons v Ogden which destroyed the monopoly power of steamboats on the Hudson River in 1824.

Aaron Ogden was the son of Robert Ogden, a lawyer and public official who served as Speaker of the New Jersey lower house immediately preceding the Revolution, and Phebe Ogden.

Aaron Ogden's brother Matthias Aaron Ogden was a Revolutionary War soldier and his nephew, Daniel Haines, served as Governor of New Jersey on two separate occasions.

Aaron Ogden served in various roles throughout the war, seeing action and rising to the rank of brigade major.

Aaron Ogden was admitted as an original member of The Society of the Cincinnati in the state of New Jersey when it was established in 1783.

Aaron Ogden went on to serve as the President of the New Jersey Society from 1824 until his death in 1839, and President General of The Society of the Cincinnati from 1829 until his death.

Aaron Ogden commenced practice in Elizabeth and served as a presidential elector in the 1796 electoral college that elected John Adams.

Aaron Ogden was clerk of Essex County from 1785 to 1803.

Aaron Ogden was elected as a Federalist to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James Schureman and served from February 28,1801, to March 3,1803.

Aaron Ogden lost his bid for re-election to the Senate in 1802.

Aaron Ogden ran several times for New Jersey's at-large congressional district, finishing 6th in 1800, and running in 1803,1804,1806,1808, and 1810.

In 1803, Aaron Ogden was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly, where he served until 1812.

Aaron Ogden was elected trustee of the College of New Jersey in 1803, a post in which he served until his death.

In 1812, Aaron Ogden was elected as Governor of New Jersey in a wave of Federalist victories across the state due to opposition to the War of 1812.

Aaron Ogden had been nominated by his Federalist colleagues as governor many times before, but the Republicans held the majority in the Assembly and elected their choice from 1803 to 1812.

Aaron Ogden was nominated by President James Madison as major general of the Army in 1813, but declined the appointment.

Aaron Ogden moved to Jersey City in 1829 and resumed the practice of law.

Aaron Ogden died in Jersey City, New Jersey on April 19,1839.

Aaron Ogden's body is interred at the burial ground of the First Presbyterian Church of Elizabeth.