Dennis Pennington | |
|---|---|
 Photo of Dennis Pennington on display in the Indiana First State Capitol Building | |
| Indiana Territorial Legislature speaker | |
| In office 1810–1816 | |
| Preceded by | None |
| Succeeded by | None |
| Constituency | Harrison County |
| Indiana State Senate Speaker (1816–18) | |
| In office 1816–1820 | |
| In office 1825–1827 | |
| In office 1830–1833 | |
| In office 1842–1845 | |
| Constituency | Harrison County |
| Indiana House of Representatives | |
| In office 1822–1824 | |
| In office 1828–1830 | |
| In office 1845–1846 | |
| Constituency | Harrison County |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 18, 1776 Cumberland County, Virginia |
| Died | September 2, 1854 (aged 78) Harrison County, Indiana |
| Political party | Whig Party |
| Spouse | Elizabeth English |
| Relations | Walter Q. Gresham (grandnephew) |
| Residence | Central Barren, Indiana |
| Occupation | Farmer, stonemason, politician |
| Nickname(s) | "Old Uncle Dennis", "Father Pennington" |
Dennis Pennington (May 18, 1776 – September 2, 1854) was a farmer and a stonemason who became known for his many years in public office as an early legislator in the Indiana Territory and in Indiana's General Assembly as a representative of Harrison County, Indiana. Pennington, a member of the Whig Party, became the first speaker of the Indiana territorial legislature's lower house in 1810, served as the territory's census enumerator in 1815, and represented Harrison County as one of its five delegates to the constitutional convention of 1816. Pennington was the first speaker of the Indiana Senate (1816 to 1818), and served in the state legislature for eighteen years, which included five years in the Indiana House of Representatives and thirteen years in the Indiana Senate. His major political contributions relate to his strong opposition to slavery. Pennington ran unsuccessfully for Indiana's Lieutenant Governor in 1825. In addition to his service in the state legislature, Penning was a Harrison County sheriff and a justice of the peace, a trustee of Indiana University, and a member of the Grand Lodge of Indiana. He also supervised construction of the limestone courthouse that served as Indiana's first state capitol building in Corydon, Indiana. The historic Old Capitol, the seat of state government from 1816 to 1825, is one of his most enduring legacies. Fondly remembered as "Old Uncle Dennis" or "Father Pennington," he was known for his common sense and strong character and became one of Harrison County's most influential citizens.