John Conard

John Conard (November 15, 1773 – May 9, 1857) was a Democratic-Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania and a long-serving federal marshal, widely known by the nickname “Fighting Quaker.” He was born in Chester Valley in the Province of Pennsylvania, then part of British North America, on November 15, 1773. Raised in the Quaker tradition, he attended the Friends School, receiving an education grounded in the religious and civic values of the Society of Friends, which would shape both his personal character and public reputation.

In about 1795, Conard moved to Germantown, Pennsylvania, then a growing community near Philadelphia. There he pursued legal studies, was admitted to the bar, and commenced the practice of law. Alongside his legal work, he was active in education and served as a professor of mathematics at the local academy in Germantown, reflecting both his intellectual interests and his engagement with civic life. His combination of legal training and academic experience helped establish him as a respected figure in his community and prepared him for later public service.

Conard entered national politics as a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, which dominated Pennsylvania and national politics in the early nineteenth century. He was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Thirteenth Congress and represented Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives during the period encompassing the War of 1812. His tenure in Congress coincided with a time of intense partisan debate over war policy, finance, and the role of the federal government, and his vigorous advocacy in public affairs contributed to his reputation as the “Fighting Quaker.” After serving in the Thirteenth Congress, he declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1814, choosing to step away from elective office at the conclusion of his term.

Following his congressional service, Conard continued his career in the law and the judiciary. He served as an associate judge of the district court, a position that drew on his legal expertise and prior experience at the bar. His judicial role placed him at the center of local legal affairs in Pennsylvania during a period of expanding commerce and evolving state and federal legal frameworks.

Conard subsequently entered federal executive service when he was appointed United States marshal for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by President James Monroe. In this capacity, he was responsible for enforcing federal court orders, overseeing the custody and transport of prisoners, and carrying out other duties central to the operation of the federal judiciary. His performance in office earned him reappointment by President John Quincy Adams, and he continued in the post for two years under President Andrew Jackson, spanning administrations of differing political alignments and underscoring the confidence placed in his abilities and integrity. He retired from public life in 1832, concluding a lengthy period of service in both legislative and executive branches of the federal government.

After his retirement, Conard moved from Pennsylvania to Maryland around 1834. He settled in Cecil County near Port Deposit, a community along the Susquehanna River that was developing as a regional commercial center. He resided there for many years, living in relative retirement from public affairs while remaining a figure of local prominence due to his long record of service. In 1851 he returned to Pennsylvania and took up residence in Philadelphia, the state’s principal city and legal hub, where he spent the final years of his life.

John Conard died in Philadelphia on May 9, 1857. Although he died in Pennsylvania, his remains were interred in St. Mary Anne’s Episcopal Churchyard in North East, Maryland, reflecting his later-life ties to Cecil County. Remembered as the “Fighting Quaker” for his forceful public service despite his Quaker background, Conard’s career spanned law, education, the judiciary, and federal office during a formative period in the early republic.