Marcus Lawrence Ward (November 9, 1812-April 25, 1884) was a United States political figure. Ward was chosen as a delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention and was the chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1866 to 1868. Republicans nominated Ward for Governor in 1862, but he lost to Democrat Joel Parker. Ward was nominated again in 1865 and was elected Governor of New Jersey, serving from 1866 to 1869. After a Democratic-controlled legislature had not passed the Thirteenth Amendment, Ward worked with the new Republican-controlled New Jersey Legislature to secure state passage of both the Thirteenth and the Fourteenth Amendment, with its Due Process and Equal Protection clauses.
Ward served in the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey's 6th District from 1873-1875
