John James Gardner (October 17, 1845 – February 7, 1921) was an American Republican Party politician who represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives for ten terms from 1893 to 1913, and was Mayor of Atlantic City, New Jersey.

John James Gardner
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 2nd district
In office
March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1913
Preceded byJames Buchanan
Succeeded byJ. Thompson Baker
Member of the
New Jersey Senate from
Atlantic County
In office
1878–1893
Preceded byHosea F. Madden
Succeeded bySamuel D. Hoffman
Mayor of Atlantic City, New Jersey
In office
1868–1872
Preceded byLemuel G. Eldridge
Succeeded byCharles Souder
In office
1874–1875
Preceded byCharles Souder
Succeeded byWillard Wright
Personal details
Born(1845-10-17)October 17, 1845
Atlantic County, New Jersey
DiedFebruary 7, 1921(1921-02-07) (aged 75)
Indian Mills, New Jersey
Political partyRepublican
Alma materUniversity of Michigan
ProfessionPolitician
Signature

At the time of his election to Congress, Gardner was the longest serving member in the history of the New Jersey Senate, having represented Atlantic County for five consecutive terms from 1878 to 1893.

Early life and career

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Born in Atlantic County, Gardner attended the common schools and the University of Michigan Law School in 1866 and 1867. He served in the 6th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry from 1861 to 1865 and one year in the United States Veteran Volunteers. He engaged in the real estate and insurance business.

Political career

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Gardner was elected alderman of Atlantic City in 1867. He served as Mayor of Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1868 to 1872 and again from 1874 to 1875. He served as member of the common council and coroner of Atlantic County in 1876. He was a member of the New Jersey Senate from 1878 to 1893, serving as its president in 1883. He engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a delegate to the 1884 Republican National Convention.

Congress

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Gardner was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-third and to the nine succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1913). In April 1898, Gardner was among the six representatives who voted against declaring war on Spain. He served as chairman of the Committee on Labor. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1912 to the Sixty-third Congress and resumed agricultural pursuits.

Death

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He died of heart disease at his farm in Indian Mills in Shamong Township, New Jersey on February 7, 1921,[1] and was interred in Atlantic City Cemetery in Pleasantville, New Jersey.

References

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  1. ^ Staff. "Ex-Congressman John J. Gardner", The New Jersey Law Journal, Volume 44, p. 95. Accessed February 4, 2013. "While not a lawyer it was not his fault that he was not a member of the New Jersey Bar. This is to be said of Ex-Congressman John J. Gardner of, formerly, Atlantic City, who died on his farm at Indian Mills, Burlington county on Feb. 7th last, of heart disease."
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  • United States Congress. "John J. Gardner (id: G000057)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • John James Gardner at The Political Graveyard
  • John James Gardner at Find a Grave
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Atlantic City
1868–1872
Succeeded by
Preceded by Mayor of Atlantic City
1874–1875
Succeeded by
Preceded by President of the New Jersey Senate
1883
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 2nd congressional district

1893–1913
Succeeded by