[1] He was tutored privately, and graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1779.

He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1784 and commenced practice in Princeton.

[2] He was elected as a Federalist to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Frederick Frelinghuysen and served from November 12, 1796, to March 4, 1799, but declined to be a candidate for reelection.

[4] His brother Lucius Horatio Stockton served as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey.

His son Commodore Robert F. Stockton was the Military Governor of California who defeated the Mexican army in 1846.