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Stockton, Robert Field

naval officer, United States senator, was born Aug. 20, 1795, in Princeton, N. J. He commanded the American squadron on the coast of Africa, and was one of the founders of the colony of Liberia. He was one of the first of our commanders to introduce and apply steam to naval purposes - the famous sloop-of-war Princeton having been built under his supervision; when war was declared with Mexico he was placed in command of the United States fleet in the Pacific, and performed the duties of commodore, general, and governor. He was elected United States senator for the term from 1851 to 1857.

He was elected a delegate to the peace congress in 1861; and was president of the Delaware and Raritan Canal company from the time he left the senate until his death. He died Oct. 7, 1866, in Princeton.