John Patterson Bryan Maxwell

Who was John Patterson Bryan Maxwell?

John Patterson Bryan Maxwell was an American Whig Party politician who represented New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives from 1837 to 1839 and 1841 to 1843. He was the son of George C. Maxwell and the first cousin of George M. Robeson, both of whom also served in the House of Representatives.

Maxwell was born on September 3, 1804 in Flemington, New Jersey. He graduated from Princeton College in 1823, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1827 and commenced practice in Newark, New Jersey. He moved to Belvidere, New Jersey and became editor of the Belvidere Apollo.

Maxwell was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-fifth Congress, serving from March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839. He presented credentials as a Member-elect to the Twenty-sixth Congress, but the House declined to seat him. He was elected to the Twenty-seventh Congress, in office from March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843. He was a trustee of Princeton College from 1842 to 1845. Maxwell died in Belvidere on November 14, 1845, and was interred there in Belvidere Cemetery.

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.