Jonathan Jennings (1784 – July 26, 1834) was an Indiana politician. Born in 1784 in Readington, New Jersey, he was the first Governor of Indiana, serving from 1816 to 1822. He died in July 26, 1834 in Charlestown, Indiana. He arrived in Clark County, Indiana in 1806, and established Charlestown as his home after considering Jeffersonville and Vincennes. "No slavery in Indiana" was his motto, and he labored hard for that. In 1809 he beat Territorial Governor William Henry Harrison's chosen candidate, Thomas Randolph, for the Indiana Territory representative to Congress. He lead the movement to speed Indiana's statehood against the wishes of Thomas Posey. At the state constitution convention, Jenning's forces were able to elect him as president of the convention, allowing Jennings and his forces to have their way. In the election for Indiana's first governor, Jennings easily beat Posey 5,211 to 3,934. After the two terms allowed by the state constitution, Jennings returned to Congress from 1822-1831. During this time he twice served as Grand Master of the Indiana Grand Lodge of Freemasons.
External links
- Indiana State Historical Bureau biography of Jonathan Jennings
- Jonathan Jennings at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Jonathan Jennings on Find-A-Grave
| Preceded by Jesse B. Thomas |
Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana Territory November 271809 – December 111816 |
Succeeded by Benjamin Parke |
| Preceded by Thomas Posey (territorial governor) |
Governor of Indiana 1816 – 1822 |
Succeeded by Ratliff Boon |
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| Territorial: Harrison • Posey
Jennings • Boon • W. Hendricks • Ray • Noble • Wallace • Bigger • J. Whitcomb • Dunning • Wright • Willard • Hammond • Lane • Morton • Baker • T. Hendricks • Williams • Gray • Porter • Gray • Hovey • Chase • Matthews • Mount • Durbin • Hanly • Marshall • Ralston • Goodrich • McCray • Branch • Jackson • Leslie • McNutt • Townsend • Schricker • Gates • Schricker • Craig • Handley • Welsh • Branigin • E. Whitcomb • Bowen • Orr • Bayh • O'Bannon • Kernan • Daniels |
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