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University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Congress

Roster of Alumni, Faculty and Trustees, 1774 to the present

 

researched, compiled and presented by Scott W. Hawley (B.A., 1992; B.S. in Econ., 1992) in partnership with the University Archives and Records Center published February 2002; updated July 2002

"This is a story of public service in the highest tradition of the University. It is a story of Benjamin Franklin's radical idea of valuing a practical education. The remarkable story of Penn's connection to the United States Congress begins with the Continental Congress, precursor to the United States Congress, in 1774. What links all the men and women listed below is their leadership in the United States Congress and their time at the University of Pennsylvania. I think it is safe to say that such a long and distinguished tradition might even cause Benjamin Franklin, that busy, busy man, to stop and pause and be proud."

Scott W. Hawley
February 2002

 

black and white photograph of oil painting of George Wharton Pepper

George Wharton Pepper (1867-1961)

 

Penn and Congress

Arranged by surname in alphabetical order

Surnames ending in N through R

Note to the reader: All abbreviations and phrases used in the standard entries below are intended to be self-explanatory. The editors have given special attention to abbreviations used for academic degrees. Abbreviations for academic degrees are spelled out in the entry of first instance. Nevertheless, among the degrees listed below, two are not in common use today. In order to assist the reader, the editors have defined those degrees here: M.B. (Bachelor of Medicine); LL.B. (Bachelor of Laws).

 

Arnold NAUDAINBorn 1790; University of Pennsylvania, M.D., 1810 (Doctor of Medicine, School of Medicine); U.S. Senator from Delaware, 1830-1836; died 1872.
John NEILSONBorn 1745; Attended College of Philadelphia as a member of the Class of 1761 but did not earn a degree; New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress, 1778; died 1833.
William Augustus NEWELLBorn 1817; University of Pennsylvania, M.D., 1839; New Jersey representative to the U.S. Congress, 1847-1851, 1865-1867; Governor of New Jersey, 1857-1860; died 1901.
Robert Nelson Cornelius NIX, Sr.Born 1905; University of Pennsylvania, LL.B., 1924 (Bachelor of Laws, The Law School); Pennsylvania representative to the U.S. Congress, 1958-1979; died 1987.
Edson Baldwin OLDSBorn 1802; University of Pennsylvania, M.D., 1829; Ohio representative to the U.S. Congress, 1849-1855; died 1869.
Archibald Ernest OLPPBorn 1882; University of Pennsylvania, M.D., 1908; New Jersey representative to the U.S. Congress, 1921-1923; died 1949.
William PACABorn 1740; University of Pennsylvania, A.B., 1759 (Bachelor of Arts); Maryland delegate to the U.S. Congress, 1774-1779; Signer of the Declaration of Independence; died 1799.
Cyrus Maffet PALMERBorn 1887; Attended University of Pennsylvania Law School, 1907, but did not earn a degree; Pennsylvania representative to the U.S. Congress, 1927-1929; died 1959.
John Mercer PATTONBorn 1797; University of Pennsylvania, M.D., 1818; Virginia representative to the U.S. Congress, 1830-1838; Governor of Virginia, 1841; died 1858.
George Wharton PEPPERBorn 1867; University of Pennsylvania, A.B., 1887, LL.B., 1889, and Hon. LL.D., 1907 (Doctor of Laws); Lecturer in Law School, 1894-1910; Trustee, 1911-1961; U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, 1922-1927; died 1961.
Richard PETERS, Jr.Born 1744; University of Pennsylvania, A.B., 1761; Pennsylvania delegate to the Continental Congress, 1782-1783; died 1828.
Charles PETTITBorn 1736; Trustee, University of Pennsylvania, 1786-1802; New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress, 1785-1787; died 1806.
Jesus T. PINEROBorn 1897; Attended Towne Scientific School, University of Pennsylvania, 1915-1916, but did not earn a degree; Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico to the U.S. Congress, 1945-1946; Governor of Puerto Rico, 1946-1948; died 1952.
John Howard PUGHBorn 1827; University of Pennsylvania, M.D., 1852; New Jersey representative to the U.S. Congress, 1877-1879; died 1905.
David RAMSAYBorn 1749; University of Pennsylvania, M.B., 1773 (Bachelor of Medicine, School of Medicine) and Hon. M.D., 1780; South Carolina delegate to the Continental Congress, 1782-1783, 1785-1786; died 1815.
Joseph REEDBorn 1741; University of Pennsylvania, Hon. A.M., 1766 (Master of Arts) and Trustee, 1778-1785; Pennsylvania delegate to the Continental Congress, 1778; died 1785.
Robert Rentoul REEDBorn 1807; University of Pennsylvania, M.D., 1829; Pennsylvania representative to the U.S. Congress, 1849-1851; died 1864.
Jacob RICHARDSBorn 1773; University of Pennsylvania, A.B., 1791; Pennsylvania representative to the U.S. Congress, 1803-1809; died 1816.
Lewis RIGGSBorn 1789; Attended University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 1812-1813, but did not graduate; New York representative to the U.S. Congress, 1841-1843; died 1870.
Caesar Augustus RODNEYBorn 1772; University of Pennsylvania, A.B., 1789; Delaware representative to the U.S. Congress, 1803-1805; U.S. Senator from Delaware, 1822-1823; Attorney-General of the United States, 1807-1811; died 1824.
Benjamin RUSHBorn 1746; Professor of Chemistry, 1769-1779, Professor of Medicine, 1789-1791, 1805-1813, and Professor of Physiology, 1792-1805 at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Pennsylvania delegate to the Continental Congress, 1776-1777; died 1813.
Albert Greig RUTHERFORDBorn 1879; University of Pennsylvania, LL.B., 1904; Pennsylvania representative to the U.S. Congress, 1937-1941; died 1941.

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