Mahlon Dickerson was born in Morris County, New Jersey, on 17 April 1770. He studied law after graduation from the College of New Jersey in 1789, practicing that profession in Morris County and later in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dickerson first won political office in 1799, when he became a member of Philadelphia's common council. He returned to New Jersey in 1810 to operate his family's iron mine and pursue a political career in that state. Over more than two decades, he served on the state Surpreme Court, as Governor and as United States Senator.

Dickerson became President Andrew Jackson's third Secretary of the Navy in July 1834 and remained in office into President Martin Van Buren's first term. His tenure was marked by increased influence on the part of the Board of Naval Commissioners, the completion of the new steamship Fulton II and slow progress toward launching an expedition to explore the Antarctic and Pacific.

After resigning his Navy post in 1838, Dickerson returned to his business interests in New Jersey. He was a Federal district judge in the early 1840s and remained active in Democratic Party political affairs. Mahlon Dickerson died near Succasunna, New Jersey, on 5 October 1853.

USS Dickerson (DD-157, later APD-21), 1919-1945, was named in honor of Secretary of the Navy Mahlon Dickerson.

New Jersey Assemblyman 1811-13. Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court 1813-15. Governor of the State of New Jersey 1815-17. United States Senator 1817-29 & 1829-33. New Jersey Councilman (Senator) 1831-33, Vice President 1833. Secretary of the United States Navy 1834-38. Federal Judge, U.S. District Court 1840-41. Brother of Philemon Dickerson.

Lodge: Cincinnati 17, Now #3
Residence: Succasunna