Jonathan Elmer (November 29, 1745September 3, 1817) was an American politician, of the Pro-Administration (Federalist) Party. Early life Jonathan Elmer was born in Cedarville, New Jersey, in 1745. He was the son of Reverend Daniel Elmer and Abigail (Lawrence) Elmer. He was privately tutored until 1765, when he began attendance in the first class of medical students at the University of Pennsylvania. He received the degree of bachelor of medicine in 1768, and 1771 he received his doctor of medicine degree, the first awarded by an American university. Early career Elmer practiced medicine in Bridgeton and became active in government and politics. From 1772 to 1775, he served as sheriff of Cumberland County. During the American Revolutionary War he was a militia officer and attained the rank of captain as commander of a company. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1774. Later career Elmer was a delegate to the Continental Congress three times: 1777 to 1778, 1781 to 1783, and 1787 to 1788. In 1780 and 1784 he represented Cumberland County in the New Jersey Legislative Council. The College of New Jersey (now known as Princeton University) made Elmer a trustee in 1782. He served in that position until 1795. The New Jersey Legislature appointed Elmer to the United States Senate for the term of March 4, 1789 to March 3, 1791. His health declined after that, and Elmer died in 1817, and he was interred in Old Broad Street Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Bridgeton. Family In 1769, Elmer married Mary Seeley, the daughter of Colonel Ephraim Seeley of Bridgeton. They were the parents of eight children. Elmer's younger brother, Ebenezer Elmer, and Ebenezer's son Lucius Elmer were members of the United States House of Representatives. References http://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/rutgersnj/elmer_jonathan_b_nov_29_1745_d_sept_3_1817/0 External links Jonathan Elmer at The Political Graveyard 1745 births 1817 deaths People from Lawrence Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey People of colonial New Jersey American people of English descent American Presbyterians Continental Congressmen from New Jersey Pro-Administration Party United States senators from New Jersey Members of the New Jersey Legislative Council New Jersey sheriffs 18th-century American physicians University of Pennsylvania alumni Princeton University people Burials in New Jersey Members of the American Philosophical Society