Nathaniel Pitcher Tallmadge (February 8, 1795November 2, 1864) was an American lawyer and politician. He served two terms as United States Senator from New York (1833–1844) and was the 3rd Governor of the Wisconsin Territory (1844–1845). Early life Tallmadge was born in Chatham, New York, on February 8, 1795, the son of Joel Tallmadge (1756–1834) and Phoebe ( Potter; 1779–1842). Joel Tallmadge was a veteran of the American Revolution and a blacksmith before attaining success as a farmer and lumber merchant at his home on Tallmadge Hill in Barton, New York. Nathaniel Tallmadge attended Williams College before transferring to Union College, from which he graduated in 1815. He then moved to Poughkeepsie to study law with his first cousin, James Tallmadge, Jr. He attained admission to the bar in 1818, and entered into a legal practice in partnership with his cousin, James. The partnership continued until James Tallmadge's election as Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1825, after which Nathaniel Tallmadge continued to practice on his own. Career Tallmadge became active in politics as a Jacksonian. He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Dutchess Co.) in 1828, and he served in the New York State Senate (2nd D.) from 1830 to 1833, sitting in the 53rd, 54th, 55th and 56th New York State Legislatures. United States Senator In 1833, he was elected as a Jacksonian Democrat to the United States Senate for the term beginning on March 4, 1833. In 1838, he was a member of the "Conservatives," a faction of former Democrats unhappy with the policies of Andrew Jackson's successor, Martin Van Buren and Van Buren's grip on New York politics as head of the Albany Regency political machine. The conservatives endorsed the Whig candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, William H. Seward and Luther Bradish, who were narrowly elected over incumbents William L. Marcy and John Tracy. The defection of the conservatives was considered a harbinger for the 1840 presidential election, at which Van Buren was defeated by William Henry Harrison. By the time of New York's 1839 election for U.S. Senator, Tallmadge had become identified with the Whigs, who nominated him for reelection. Democrats controlled the State Senate, and they objected to Tallmadge because of his decision to abandon Van Buren. By refusing to vote, the Democrats in the State Senate prevented any candidate from obtaining a majority. As a result of the legislature's