Born in
Imlaystown, he pursued
classical studies and graduated from
Princeton College in 1786, where he was also a tutor. He studied law, was admitted to the
bar in 1791, and practiced. He was a major in the
Monmouth County Militia and served in the
Revolutionary War. He was a counselor in 1796, and was a member of the
New Jersey General Assembly from 1793 to 1796, serving as speaker in the latter year. ==Tenure in Congress==