Two Coincidences in Abel P. Upshur's Death

Two coincidences I find of interest in the U.S. Secretary of State's death in 1843.

First, he was on the USS Princeton, the eventual name of the college he was expelled from for being a leader in the "Great Rebellion" in 1807.

Second, the USS Princeton was commanded by Robert F. Stockton, the son of Richard Stockton who had delivered the speech at Princeton's chapel trying to get the students to back down on their grievances.

Interesting Coincidences.  --Brock-Perry

Richard Stockton, Jr-- Part 2: Father of Commodore Robert Stockton of USS Princeton Tragedy

The answer to yesterday's question as to whether Richard Stockton was the father of Robert F. Stockton, the commander of the USS Princeton when the cannon exploded killing Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur, who was one of the students disciplined for the "Great Rebellion" of 1807 and received the sermon from Richard Stockton, Jr. after the petition was delivered.  The answer is yes he was.

Richard Stockton, Jr. was a U.S. senator and representative from New Jersey.  he graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1779 and is buried at Princeton Cemetery.

He was the son of Richard Stockton, who signed the Declaration of Independence from New Jersey.

Small World.  --Brock-Perry

Richard Stockton, Jr.-- Part 1

I have to wonder whether this Richard Stockton, Jr., who delivered the sermon trying to get the student leaders to renounce their petition on behest of Princeton President Smith, was related to the commander of the USS Princeton on that fateful day the in the 1840s when the Secretary of the Navy, Secretary of State were killed and President Tyler came close to being killed as well.

--Brock-Perry

"The Great Rebellion" at Princeton in 1807-- Part 2: Renounce the Petition

That day, March 30th, eight students submitted a petition to Princeton President Smith with 160 signatures of other students demanding that he reconsider his suspensions of the three students.

Smith refused to even read the petition.  How dare these students "demand" he change his mind.  He had trustee Richard Stockton, Jr., deliver a sermon to the protesters and student body at the chapel in an attempt to get them to renounce their petition.  Even before he was finished, the students began scraping their shoes noisily on the floor.

Then, one conspirator "jumped up, gave a signal, and charged out of the room with two-thirds of the college's two hundred students behind him.  Everyone of them was immediately suspended."

And, It Wasn't Over Yet.  --Brock-Perry