John Brown PENINGTON, Congress, DE (1825-1902)

PENINGTON, John Brown, a Representative from Delaware; born near New Castle, Del., December 20, 1825; pursued an academic course in New Castle and Newark, Del., and was graduated from Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pa.; engaged in teaching in Indiana for several years; returned to Delaware; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1857 and commenced practice in Dover, Del.; member of the State house of representatives in 1857; clerk of the State house of representatives in 1859, 1863, and 1871; delegate to the Democratic National Conventions at Charleston and Baltimore in 1860; appointed United States attorney for the district of Delaware in 1868 by President Johnson and served until 1872; appointed attorney general of the State by Governor Ponder in 1874 and served until 1878; elected as a Democrat to the Fiftieth and Fifty-first Congresses (March 4, 1887-March 3, 1891); was not a candidate for renomination in 1890; resumed the practice of law at Dover, Del., where he died June 1, 1902; interment in the Presbyterian Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present