Anderson, Joseph
soldier, lawyer, jurist, United States senator, was born Nov. 5, 1757, near Philadelphia, Pa. He was appointed an ensign in the New Jersey line in 1775; was promoted to an adjutancy; as a captain fought at the battle of Monmouth; also went in 1779 with Sullivan against the Six Nations; in 1780 was at Valley Forge; in 1781 at the siege of York; and after the war retired with the rank of brevet major. He practiced law in Delaware for seven years.
In 1791 was appointed judge of the territory south of the Ohio river; remained in that position until the first constitution of Tennessee was formed, which he aided in forming in convention; and was an influential member of the United States senate from Tennessee from 1797 to 1815. He was appointed in 1815 first comptroller of the treasury, where he remained until 1836. He died April 17, 1837, in Washington, D. C.