Lucius Elmer

Long before Lucius Q.C. Lamar became a prominent American political figure, there was Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus Elmer, a historian, and politician from New Jersey. Born in Bridgeton, New Jersey on February 3, 1793, Elmer lived a long life, dying one month after his 90th birthday on March 11, 1883, in the town in which he was born. He was the son of General Ebenezer Elmer (1751 through 1843) a prominent New Jersey physician, military figure, and member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1801 through 07.

Elmer attended private schools in the Bridgeton area and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia. He married Philadelphia native Catherine Hay in 1818 and four daughters were born to this couple over eight years time. They are listed as follows: Hannah (1819 through 1882), Caroline (1821 through 1911), Catherine (1825 through 1914), and Mary (1827 through 1914).

L.Q.C. Elmer was also a veteran of the War of 1812, serving as a lieutenant of artillery in the New Jersey state militia. Elmer earned his law degree in 1815 and in 1820 was elected to the New Jersey State Assembly, serving here until 1823. In his last year of service in the State Assembly, Elmer was elected as its Speaker. In the following year, Elmer was named U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey and served five years in that office (1824 through 1829).

In 1843, Elmer was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey, where he served for one term. He was defeated for reelection in 1845 by fellow Bridgeton resident James Giles Hampton (1814 through 1861). After leaving Congress, Elmer experienced further political success when he was elected to the post of Attorney General of New Jersey, serving in this post from 1850 through 1852. In his last year as Attorney General, Elmer was appointed to a seat on the New Jersey State Supreme Court, serving as an Associate Justice from 1852 through 1859, and 1861 through 1869.