Representative Joseph Hemphill

Joseph Hemphill (January 7, 1770 – May 29, 1842) was an American lawyer, jurist, and politician who served multiple terms in the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania and held long-standing influence in state politics. Over the course of his career he served as a Federalist member of the U.S. House for Pennsylvania’s 3rd congressional district from 1801 to 1803, as a Jackson Federalist representative for Pennsylvania’s 1st congressional district from 1819 to 1823, and as a Jacksonian representative for Pennsylvania’s 2nd congressional district from 1829 to 1831. He also served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1797 to 1800, in 1805, and from 1831 to 1832, and was a prominent advocate of internal improvements and an outspoken opponent of slavery.

Hemphill was born on January 7, 1770, in Thornbury Township in the Province of Pennsylvania, to Joseph and Ann (Wills) Hemphill. He was raised in a Quaker-influenced region of southeastern Pennsylvania, a background that later shaped his views on slavery and Native American policy. He pursued higher education in Philadelphia and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1791, a notable achievement in the early national period. Following his graduation, he studied law under Thomas Ross, a respected Pennsylvania attorney, and was admitted to the bar in 1793. He began the practice of law in West Chester, Pennsylvania, where he quickly established himself as a capable lawyer and entered public life.

Hemphill’s political career commenced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where he served from 1797 to 1800. His work in the state legislature coincided with the formative years of the new republic, and he aligned himself with the Federalist Party. In 1801 he was elected as a Federalist to the Seventh Congress, representing Pennsylvania’s 3rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1801 to 1803. After this initial term in Congress, he moved to Philadelphia in 1803, the state’s principal political and commercial center, and resumed his legal practice. He returned briefly to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1805, continuing to build his reputation as a legislator.

In addition to his legislative work, Hemphill held a significant judicial post. He was appointed the first president judge of the district court of the city and county of Philadelphia, a position that placed him at the center of the region’s judicial affairs during a period of rapid urban and economic growth. His combined experience as a lawyer, judge, and legislator enhanced his standing when he reentered national politics. He was elected as a Federalist member representing Pennsylvania’s 1st congressional district to the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Congresses, serving from 1819 to 1823. During this period he became increasingly associated with the movement for internal improvements, advocating for federal support of roads and canals to knit together the expanding United States.

Hemphill’s political affiliations evolved with the shifting party system of the 1820s. He was elected as a Jackson Federalist member representing Pennsylvania’s 2nd congressional district in the Eighteenth Congress and was reelected as a Jacksonian to the Nineteenth Congress, serving from 1823 until his resignation in 1826. In Congress he introduced a notable bill in 1824 calling for the use of military personnel to conduct surveys and estimate costs for the construction of roads and canals, reflecting his commitment to national infrastructure development. His speech in the House of Representatives on January 14, 1823, on the bill “To procure the necessary surveys, plans and estimates, on the subject of roads and canals,” was published in Washington, D.C., by D. Rapine in 1823 and circulated as a policy argument for internal improvements.

Hemphill returned to the U.S. House again as a Jacksonian, this time representing Pennsylvania’s 3rd congressional district in the Twenty-first Congress from 1829 to 1831. During this term he continued to press for transportation projects, delivering a printed speech on March 23, 1830, in support of a bill to construct a national road from Buffalo, passing by the seat of the general government, to New Orleans, which was published in Washington, D.C., by Wm. Greer. He also emerged as an anti-slavery advocate in congressional debates, particularly in connection with the extension of slavery into new territories. In a speech to Congress he denounced slavery, especially in Missouri, describing it as “the forcible oppression of otherwise powerless people.” During the contentious debate over the Indian Removal Act, Hemphill found himself torn between his support for President Andrew Jackson and the strong opposition of his largely Quaker constituency. Seeking a middle course, he proposed delaying the implementation of the act in order to conduct surveys of the lands to which Native Americans were to be removed, but his proposal was voted down.

After leaving Congress in 1831, Hemphill remained active in state politics and business. He again served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1831 and 1832, continuing his long record of legislative service. At the same time, he became involved in Philadelphia’s emerging porcelain industry. In 1831 his son, Alexander Hemphill, entered into a business partnership with William Ellis Tucker, who operated a porcelain factory in Philadelphia. Following Tucker’s death in 1832, the firm was joined by Joseph Hemphill and his brother Thomas. Under the Hemphill name, the factory continued production until it closed in 1838, contributing to the early development of American ceramics manufacturing.

Hemphill’s personal life reflected his prominence in Pennsylvania society. In September 1806 he married Margaret Coleman, daughter of Robert Coleman, a wealthy ironmaster and industrialist from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, thereby linking himself to one of the state’s most prosperous families. In 1821 he purchased what is now known as Historic Strawberry Mansion in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, from Judge William Lewis and used it as his summer home. He added Greek Revival wings to the original structure, transforming it into a fashionable country residence. At Strawberry Mansion he was known to entertain leading national figures, including John C. Calhoun of South Carolina and the Marquis de Lafayette of France, underscoring his connections within both American and international political circles.

Joseph Hemphill died in Philadelphia on May 28, 1842, and was interred at Laurel Hill Cemetery, one of the city’s most prominent rural cemeteries. His public legacy extended beyond his own lifetime; a descendant, Alexander Hemphill, served as City Controller for Philadelphia from 1958 to 1968, continuing the family’s involvement in public service. Media related to Joseph Hemphill, including images of his residence and likeness, is preserved in historical collections and at Wikimedia Commons, reflecting ongoing interest in his role in early American politics, law, and infrastructure policy.