 jonathan jennings (1784&nbsp;â july 26, 1834) was the first governor of indiana and a nine-term congressman from indiana. born in either hunterdon county, new jersey, or rockbridge county, virginia, he studied law before immigrating to the indiana territory in 1806. jennings initially intended to practice law, but took jobs as an assistant at the federal land office at vincennes and assistant to the clerk of the territorial legislature to support himself, and pursued interests in land speculation and politics. jennings became involved in a dispute with the territorial governor, william henry harrison, that soon led him to enter politics and set the tone for his early political career. in 1808 jennings moved to the eastern part of the indiana territory and settled near charlestown, in clark county. he was elected as the indiana territory's delegate to the u.s. congress by dividing the pro-harrison supporters and running as an anti-harrison candidate. by 1812 he was the leader of the anti-slavery and pro-statehood faction of the territorial government. jennings and his political allies took control of the territorial assembly and dominated governmental affairs after the resignation of governor harrison in 1812. as a congressional delegate jennings aided passage of the enabling act in 1816, which authorized the organization of indiana's state government and state constitution. he was el
1784_births 1834_deaths American_Presbyterians Charlestown,_Indiana Delegates_to_the_1816_Indiana_constitutional_convention Delegates_to_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives_from_Indiana_Territory Democratic-Republican_Party_members_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives Democratic-Republican_Party_state_governors_of_the_United_States Governors_of_Indiana Indiana_Democratic-Republicans Indiana_Jacksonians Indiana_National_Republicans Indiana_Territory_officials Members_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives_from_Indiana National_Republican_Party_members_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives People_from_Charlestown,_Indiana Vincennes_University