Isaac S. Pennybacker

Senator Pennybacker

Isaac Samuels Pennybacker (September 3, 1805– January 12, 1847) was an American lawyer, federal judge, and politician from Harrisonburg, Virginia.

[edit] Early life and education

Pennybacker was born at Pine Forge, near New Market, Shenandoah County, Virginia.

He attended Washington College (now Washington and Lee University) and the Winchester Law School, run by Henry St. George Tucker, Sr..

Pennybacker represented Virginia in the U.S. House from 1837-1839.

He was offered by Martin Van Buren the office of Attorney General, but declined. Similarly, he declined a position as justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia, and would not accept the nomination of the Democratic party for Governor of Virginia.

He was given a recess appointment and then nominated by Van Buren to serve on the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, and his nomination was confirmed by the Senate on February 17, 1840. He took the seat vacated upon the death of Alexander Caldwell.

He resigned from his judgeship in 1845, and then served as United States Senator from Virginia from 1845-1847. James K. Polk named Pennybacker to the very first Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, a group which included Vice-President George M. Dallas, Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, D.C. Mayor William W. Seaton, Senator Sidney Breese, Rep. William J. Hough, Rep. Robert Dale Owen, Rep. Henry W. Hilliard, Rufus Choate, Richard Rush, Dr. Benjamin Rush, William C. Preston, Alexander Dallas Bache, and Joseph G. Totten, among others, who met for the first time in September 1846.^[1]

As judge, Pennybacker was succeeded by John White Brockenbrough. As Senator, he succeeded William Cabell Rives, whose brother Alexander Rives later served like Pennybacker as judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia. Pennybacker died at the age of 41 in Washington, D.C.. His Senate seat was filled by James Murray Mason.

^ Some Reflections on the Board of Regents' First Meeting, on September 7, 1846. Center for Museum Studies, Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved on October 2, 2007.

Hon. Armistead M. Dobie, "Federal District Judges in Virginia before the Civil War," 12 F.R.D. 451 (1951,1952) (viewed on Westlaw)

Political offices
Preceded by James M. H. Beale	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 16th congressional district March 4, 1837 - March 3, 1839	Succeeded by Green B. Samules
Preceded by William C. Rives	United States Senator (Class 1) from Virginia December 3, 1845 - January 12, 1847 Served alongside: William S. Archer	Succeeded by James M. Mason

v • d • e United States Senators from Virginia

Class 1: Grayson • Walker • Monroe • S. Mason • Taylor • Venable • Giles • Moore • Brent • J. Barbour • Randolph • Tyler • Rives • Pennybacker • J. Mason • Willey • Bowden • Lewis • Withers • Mahone • Daniel • Swanson • Byrd, Sr. • Byrd, Jr. • Trible • Robb • Allen • Webb Class 2: Lee • Taylor • H. Tazewell • Nicholas • Moore • Giles • A. Mason • Eppes • Pleasants • Taylor • L. Tazewell • Rives • Leigh • Parker • Roane • Archer • Hunter • Carlile • Johnston • Riddleberger • J. S. Barbour • Hunton • Martin • Glass • Burch • Robertson • Spong • Scott • Warner