Biography

08/16/1771 - 07/24/1854

Jonathan Roberts, Jr. (Conventionalists (Democratic-Republican)3) Montgomery County 1807-1809 (Democratic-Republicans3) Montgomery County 1809-1811

Early Life:

 Jonathan Roberts, Jr., born August 16, 1771, Norristown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America; privately tutored; apprenticed, wheelwright craftsman; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1799-1801; elected, Conventionalists (Democratic-Republican), Pennsylvania State Senate, 1807-1809; elected, Democratic-Republicans, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1809-1811; elected, Democratic Republican, Twelfth and Thirteenth Congresses, 1811-1814, resigned; elected, Democratic Republican, United States Senate, 1814-1821; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Montgomery County, 1823-1826; collector of customs, Port of Philadelphia, 1841-1842; retired to farm; died, July 24, 1854 (aged 82), on his Robertsville farm, King of Prussia, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; interment, Jonathan Roberts Burial Ground, King of Prussia, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Montgomery County, 1799-1801.

Elected, Conventionalists (Democratic-Republican), Pennsylvania State Senate, 3rd district, 1807-1809.

Elected, Democratic-Republicans, Pennsylvania State Senate, 3rd district, 1809-1811. In order to balance the number of individuals whose terms ended in any given year, all of the members elected in 1808 and due for reelection in 1812 drew lots dividing the group between 1810, 1811 and 1812. The revised dates are given in parentheses.

Continued Government Service/National Politics:

Elected, Democratic Republican, United States House of Representatives, 2nd district, 1811-1814; resigned.

Elected, Democratic Republican Pennsylvania United States Senate, 1814-1821; filled vacancy, resignation, Michael Leib; Chairman, Committee on Claims (Fourteenth through Sixteenth Congresses), Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses (Sixteenth Congress), Committee on Public Buildings (Sixteenth Congress), unsuccessful reelection, 1820.   

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Montgomery County, 1823-1826

Legacy:

This being the day appointed for the choice of a senator of the United States, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Michael Leib, at 12 o'clock both branches of the legislature met in convention in the representative chamber, 116 members being present, and proceeded to the election, the result of which is as follows:" The Democratic Press (Philadelphia, PA). February 28, 1814.

"The members of both branches of the Legislature met on Thursday last in the Representatives' chamber, and elected Jonathan Roberts, Esquire to represent this state in the Senate of the United States, in the room of Michael Leib, resigned...It may be proper to mention, that the choice of Mr. Roberts was not a "hocus pocus business," as some folks predicted--it was not produced by "under-work" or "caucus-sing"; but the "members of the Legislature performed their duty in an open and fair way." Pennsylvania Republican (Harrisburg, PA). March 1, 1814.

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members B". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

A New Nation Votes (tufts.edu)

Jonathan Roberts (1771-1854) - Find a Grave Memorial