Isaac Samuels Pennybacker (1805 - 1847) American lawyer, federal judge, and politician from Harrisonburg, Virginia. Pennybacker represented Virginia in the U.S. House from 1837-1839. He was offered by President Martin Van Buren the office of Attorney General, but declined. Similarly, he declined a position as justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia, and would not accept the nomination of the Democratic party for Governor of Virginia. On April 23, 1839, Pennybacker received a recess appointment from Van Buren to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia the death of Alexander Caldwell. Formally nominated on January 29, 1840, Pennybacker was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 17, 1840, and received his commission the same day. He resigned from his judgeship on December 6, 1845, and then served as United States Senator from Virginia from 1845-1847. James K. Polk named Pennybacker to the very first Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, a group which included Vice-President George M. Dallas, Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, D.C. Mayor William W. Seaton, Senator Sidney Breese, Rep. William J. Hough, Rep. Robert Dale Owen, Rep. Henry W. Hilliard, Rufus Choate, Richard Rush, Dr. Benjamin Rush, William C. Preston, Alexander Dallas Bache, and Joseph G. Totten, among others, who met for the first time in September 1846. ALS, Washington City, 1837, 1p, 8 x 4.5. In response to an autograph collector wanting autographs of "the most distinguished men of our country." Picture of Pennybacker is NOT included.

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