Jacob Crowninshield

Jacob Crowninshield
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 2nd district
In office March 4, 1803 – April 15, 1808
Preceded by	William Shepard
Succeeded by	Joseph Story
Personal details
Born	March 31, 1770 Salem, Massachusetts
Died	April 15, 1808 (aged 38) Washington, D.C.
Resting place	Harmony Grove Cemetery, Salem, Massachusetts
Political party	Democratic-Republican
Relations	Benjamin Williams Crowninshield, Arent S. Crowninshield
Children	Sarah Crowninshield

Jacob Crowninshield (March 31, 1770 – April 15, 1808) was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts and appointee to the position of U.S. Secretary of the Navy, which he never filled. His brother Benjamin Williams Crowninshield did successfully hold the post; the Crowninshield family in general was prominent in early American maritime affairs. His ancestor, Johann Casper Richter von Kronenscheldt, immigrated from Leipzig. He was the grandfather of Arent S. Crowninshield.

Born in Salem, Massachusetts, he was first a businessman. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to Congress in 1798 (to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Dwight Foster) and then served in the Massachusetts State Senate in 1801.

He was tendered the position of U.S. Secretary of the Navy by President Thomas Jefferson, but never entered upon his duties on account of ill health.

He was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 8th, 9th and 10th Congresses and served from March 4, 1803, until his death in Washington, D.C., aged 38.

While in the House, in the 9th Congress, he was chairman of the United States House Committee on Commerce and Manufactures.

He is buried in Harmony Grove Cemetery in his hometown of Salem. In 1796, Hon. Jacob Crowninshield married Sarah Gardner, daughter of John (a direct descendant of an old planter) and Sarah (Derby - daughter of Richard (1712–1783)). Their daughter Sarah married the Salem merchant Richard Saltonstall Rogers. After Sarah's death, Rogers married in 1847 Elizabeth Leavitt Pickman, daughter of Salem merchant Dudley Leavitt Pickman.

External links

• Jacob Crowninshield at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Jacob Crowninshield at Miller Center of Public Affairs
• Jacob Crowninshield at Find A Grave

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by William Shepard	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district March 4, 1803 – April 15, 1808	Succeeded by Joseph Story

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