Gove Saulsbury
Gove Saulsbury | |
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41st Governor of Delaware | |
In office March 1, 1865 – January 17, 1871 | |
Preceded by | William Cannon |
Succeeded by | James Ponder |
Member of the Delaware Senate | |
In office January 6, 1863 – March 1, 1865 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Kent County, Delaware | May 29, 1815
Died | July 31, 1881 Dover, Delaware | (aged 66)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Rosina Jane Smith |
Alma mater | Delaware College University of Pennsylvania |
Profession | Physician |
Signature | |
Gove Saulsbury (May 29, 1815 – July 31, 1881) was an American physician and politician from Dover, in Kent County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, and he served in the Delaware General Assembly and as Governor of Delaware. He led opposition to civil rights for African Americans in Delaware.
Early life and family
Saulsbury was born in
Professional and political career
Saulsbury was elected to the
With Saulsbury as governor, the Democratic Party took full control in Delaware. Strongly opposed to the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, Saulsbury and the Democrats took every possible step to frustrate their implementation and deny the new rights given to African-Americans. This included the recommendation that African-Americans convicted of certain crimes be sold back into slavery. This fear-mongering was so successful that no Republicans were elected to the Delaware General Assembly in 1868, and hardly any were elected for many years thereafter.
When Saulsbury's term was over, he wanted to assume the U.S. Senate seat held by his brother, Willard Saulsbury. Willard had compromised himself with a well-known drinking problem, and many wanted him replaced. Unfortunately for Gove Saulsbury, the third brother, Eli Saulsbury also wanted the seat. After much balloting in the General Assembly, it became apparent to Willard that he could not win, so he switched his votes to Eli, who consequently won. Gove Saulsbury returned to his medical practice full-time.
Delaware General Assembly (sessions while Governor) | |||||||||||
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Year | Assembly | Senate Majority | Speaker | House Majority | Speaker | ||||||
1865–1866 | 73rd | Democratic | William Hitch | Democratic | Shephard P. Houston | ||||||
1867–1868 | 74th | Democratic | James Ponder | Democratic | William A. Polk | ||||||
1869–1870 | 75th | Democratic | James Williams
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Democratic | John Hickman |
Death and legacy
Saulsbury died at Dover and is buried at Wesley Methodist Church Cemetery. He was President of the Delaware Medical Society in 1861, and in 1873 was one of the founders of Wesley College in Dover.
He was a strong and effective leader for a bitterly reactionary majority in Delaware, and his policies set the tone and the agenda for much political activity for a generation. According to Scharf, Saulsbury had "a deep sense of personal responsibility. He had a strong will and asserted his opinions earnestly and often, and as it seemed to those who differed with him, obstinately." Governor Robert J. Reynolds described him as "distinguished for his cunning. He was the slyest, cunningest man, and the most natural born politician Delaware ever produced." He was said to have "never apologized, compromised, or surrendered, unless it was in his interest."
Almanac
Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. Members of the Delaware General Assembly took office the first Tuesday of January. State senators have a four-year term. The governor takes office the third Tuesday of January and has a four-year term.
Public Offices | ||||||
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Office | Type | Location | Began office | Ended office | notes | |
State Senator | Legislature | Dover | January 6, 1863 | March 1, 1865 | ||
Governor | Executive | Dover | March 1, 1865 | January 15, 1867 | acting | |
Governor | Executive | Dover | January 15, 1867 | January 17, 1871 |
Delaware General Assembly service | ||||||
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Dates | Assembly | Chamber | Majority | Governor | Committees | District |
1863–1864 | 72nd | State Senate | Democratic | William Cannon | Kent at-large | |
1865–1866 | 73rd | State Senate | Democratic | William Cannon | Speaker | Kent at-large |
Election results | |||||||||||
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Year | Office | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||
1866 | Governor | Gove Saulsbury | Democratic | 9,810 | 53% | James Riddle | Republican | 8,598 | 47% |
References
- Conrad, Henry C. (1908). History of the State of Delaware. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Wickersham Company.
- Hancock, Harold B. (1961). Delaware During the Civil War. Wilmington, Delaware: Historical Society of Delaware.
- Hoffecker, Carol E. (2004). Democracy in Delaware. Wilmington, Delaware: Cedar Tree Books. ISBN 1-892142-23-6.
- Martin, Roger A. (1984). A History of Delaware Through its Governors. Wilmington, Delaware: McClafferty Press.
- Martin, Roger A. (1995). Memoirs of the Senate. Newark, Delaware: Roger A. Martin.
- Scharf, John Thomas (1888). History of Delaware 1609-1888. 2 vols. Philadelphia: L. J. Richards & Co. ISBN 0-87413-493-5.
- Wilson, Emerson (1969). Forgotten Heroes of Delaware. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Deltos Publishing Company.
Images
- Hall of Governors Portrait Gallery Portrait courtesy of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Dover
External links
- Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States
- Delaware’s Governors
- Gove Saulsbury at Find a Grave
- The Political Graveyard
Places with more information
- Delaware Historical Society; website; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; (302) 655-7161
- University of Delaware; Library website; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; (302) 831-2965