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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --

Mahlon Dickerson (1770-1853) --
10th Secretary of the Navy, 1 July 1834 - 30 June 1838

Mahlon Dickerson was born in Morris County, New Jersey, on 17 April 1770. He studied law after graduation from the College of New Jersey in 1789, practicing that profession in Morris County and later in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dickerson first won political office in 1799, when he became a member of Philadelphia's common council. He returned to New Jersey in 1810 to operate his family's iron mine and pursue a political career in that state. Over more than two decades, he served on the state Surpreme Court, as Governor and as United States Senator.

Dickerson became President Andrew Jackson's third Secretary of the Navy in July 1834 and remained in office into President Martin Van Buren's first term. His tenure was marked by increased influence on the part of the Board of Naval Commissioners, the completion of the new steamship Fulton II and slow progress toward launching an expedition to explore the Antarctic and Pacific.

After resigning his Navy post in 1838, Dickerson returned to his business interests in New Jersey. He was a Federal district judge in the early 1840s and remained active in Democratic Party political affairs. Mahlon Dickerson died near Succasunna, New Jersey, on 5 October 1853.

USS Dickerson (DD-157, later APD-21), 1919-1945, was named in honor of Secretary of the Navy Mahlon Dickerson.

This page features our only images of Mahlon Dickerson.


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 77326-KN (Color)

Mahlon Dickerson (1770-1853),
Secretary of the Navy, 1 July 1834 -- 30 June 1838

Portrait by A.S. Conrad, after J. Vanderlyn.

Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 76KB; 615 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 66610

Mahlon Dickerson
(1770-1853)

Stipple engraving by G. Parker, after a painting by J. Vanderlyn, published during the 19th Century.
He served as Secretary of the Navy in 1834-1838.
A facsimile of his signature is printed below the portrait image.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 107KB; 450 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 60955

Mahlon Dickerson
,
Tenth Secretary of the Navy, 1 July 1834 - 30 June 1838

Stipple engraving, published during the 19th Century.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 107KB; 605 x 765 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

23 April 2000