American soldier, born in Elizabethtown, NJ, on the 3rd of December 1756. He was graduated at Princeton in 1773. He took part in several daring adventures in the preliminary skirmishes between the British and Americans, and in 1776 was made captain in a New Jersey regiment, and was present at the battles of Brandywine and Monmouth. In 1779 he served as aide in an expedition of General John Sullivan against the Indians, and a year later fought at the battle of Springfield, NJ, where his horse was shot under him. Later he was commissioned by General Washington to visit Sir Henry Clinton for the purpose of proposing an exchange of Major André for General Benedict Arnold. As might have been foreseen, Sir Henry Clinton’s honor would not permit the exchange. In 1781 Ogden was present at the Yorktown surrender, eliciting high praise from Washington for his gallant conduct during the siege. After the war he studied law and practiced with success, and in 1796 was a Presidential elector. He was subsequently appointed lieutenant-colonel of the United States army, and for six months served as deputy quartermaster-general. On February 28, 1801, he became United States Senator, and on October 29, 1812, was elected governor of New Jersey. He died in Jersey City, NJ, on the 19th of April 1839.
