John M. Vining
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| John M. Vining | |
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| Continental Congressman U.S. Representative from Delaware U.S. Senator from Delaware |
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| Born | December 23, 1758 Dover, Delaware |
| Died | February, 1802 Wilmington, Delaware |
| Residence | Dover, Delaware |
| Political party | Federalist |
| Religion | Episcopalian |
| Spouse | Anna Maria Seaton |
John Middleton "Jack" Vining (December 23, 1758 – February 1802) was an American lawyer and politician from Dover, in Kent County, Delaware. He was a Continental Congressman from Delaware, and a member of the Federalist Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly and as U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Delaware.
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[edit] Early life and family
Vining was born in Dover, Delaware on December 23, 1758, son of John and Phoebe Wynkoop Vining. His father was a prominent and successful lawyer and landholder, who had been a Speaker of the Colonial Assembly and Chief Justice of Delaware. He was also the good friend of Caesar Rodney, who stood as godfather for his son John, our subject. Vining's father died when his son was eleven years old, and from him John and his sister inherited a large fortune. On November 29, 1790, while he was a U.S. Representative in New York, he married Anna Maria Seaton, a poet, musician, and daughter of William Seaton of New York. She fit well into Vining's social swirl. They had four sons, John, William, Benjamin, and Charles, but she died prematurely in 1800.
[edit] Political career
Vining studied law under George Read in New Castle, Delaware, and was admitted to the Bar in 1782, starting a practice in Dover. Because of his family's wealth and prominence he was elected three times to represent Delaware in the Continental Congress. First elected in April 1784, he served until October 1786, although, like many of his contemporaries, his attendance was irregular. He was then elected to the 1787/88 and 1788/89 sessions of the Delaware House of Representatives or House of Assembly as it was then known.
In January 1789 Vining defeated four other candidates to win election as Delaware's only delegate to the First U.S. House of Representatives. Two years later he was re-elected to a second term. Although he arrived weeks late for every session, he was an energetic and conscientious legislator, consistently voting in support of the administration, particularly favoring a strong executive. He served on thirty-eight committees in the 1st U.S. House, including the committee considering the first proposed amendments to the Constitution, and the joint committee on rules.
Vining's positions were generally loose-constructionist, or Hamiltonian. Accordingly, he strongly favored the federal assumption of the state's Revolutionary war debts. In the debate over the location of a national capital, he sought consideration for Wilmington, Delaware, but once that lost, supported an immediate move to Philadelphia, and the later construction of a city on the Potomac River.
In 1793 he returned to Dover, Delaware as a State Senator, but was soon elected to the U.S. Senate. He served there for five years, from March 4, 1793 until his resignation on January 19, 1798, and subsequent retirement from public life.
[edit] Death and legacy
Vining died February, 1802 at Wilmington, Delaware and is buried in an unmarked grave in the Christ Episcopal Church cemetery in Dover, Delaware.
Vining was a handsome, friendly, and outspoken member of a prominent and wealthy family. He was described as a "colorful," speaker who "brandished a florid metaphor," but also as "verbose" and "not above resorting to inflammatory language." His sister, Mary, who was a frequent companion of Anthony Wayne, lived with Vining, and together they entertained frequently and lavishly. Because of this hospitality and generosity he was known as "the pet of Delaware." But he spent through his fortune and suffering from alcoholism, and the death of his wife, went through a rapid decline on the way to an impoverished and premature death. His sister dedicated herself raising Vining's four sons, but they died young as well, within a year of her death in 1821.
Elizabeth Montgomery in her Reminiscences in Wilmington wrote: "His brilliant talents, not nourished by application, withered in the bud. Indolence and generosity engendered extravagance that wasted his substance." [1]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| New Title First Congress |
U.S. Representative from Delaware (at-large) March 4, 1789 – March 3, 1793 |
Succeeded by: John Patten |
| Preceded by: Richard Bassett |
U.S. Senator from Delaware (class 2) March 4, 1793 – January 19, 1798 |
Succeeded by: Joshua Clayton |
[edit] Public offices
From 1776 until 1792 Delaware elections were held the first day of October and members of the General Assembly took office on the twentieth day of October. The State Senate, or Legislative Council, had a term of three years and the State House, or House of Assembly, had a term of one year. Three State Councilmen and seven State Assemblymen were elected, at large, from each county.
Beginning in 1792 elections were moved to the first Tuesday of October and members of the General Assembly took office on the first Tuesday of January. The Legislative Council was renamed the State Senate, and the House of Assembly was renamed the State House.
The General Assembly chose the delegates to the Continental Congress. They also chose the U.S. Senators, who took office the 4th of March, and normally served for a six year term. Members of the U.S. House took office 4th of March for a two year term.
[edit] Election results
| Year | Office | Subject | Party | votes | % | Opponent | Party | votes | % | notes | ||
| 1788 | U.S. House | John Vining | Federalist | 898 | 44% | Rhoads Shankland | 491 | 24% | [3] | |||
| 1790 | U.S. House | John Vining | Federalist |
[edit] Vining family
- Captain Benjamin Vining (1685-1735), port collector in Salem and Marblehead, Massachusetts
- Married first, Ann
- Married second, Mary Middleton. She married secondly Nicholas Greenberry Ridgely (1674-1755), and were parents of Dr. Charles Greenberry Ridgely
- John Vining (1724-1770), married Phoebe Wynkoop [4]
- Mary "Polly" Vining (1756-1821)
- John Middleton Vining (1758-1802), married Anna Maria Seaton
- John Vining (1791-1817), U.S. Navy
- William Henry Vining (1794-1822), lawyer
- Benjamin Vining (c1796-1822) U.S. Army
- Charles Ridgely Vining (1798-1821)
- Mary "Polly" Vining (c1730-), married the Rev. Charles Inglis
- Benjamin Vining (c1730-1785)
- John Vining (1724-1770), married Phoebe Wynkoop [4]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Montgomery, Elizabeth. Reminiscences in Wilmington. in Delawareans in Congress: by Roger A. Martin.
- ^ during the 5th Congress, Vining resigned January 19, 1798, during the second session. He was immediately replaced with Joshua Clayton.
- ^ the election took place January 7, 1789. Other candidates Gunning Bedford, Jr. received 308 votes, Joshua Clayton received 272 votes, and Allen McLane received 90 votes.
- ^ Roger Martin in Delawareans in Congress, names the wife of John Vining, Sr. as Rachel Ridgely.
[edit] References
- Martin, Roger A. (2003). Delawareans in Congress: The House of Representatives, Vol. One 1789-1900. Newark: Roger A. Martin. ISBN 0-924117-26-5.
- Martin, Roger A. (1995). Memoirs of the Senate. Newark: Roger A. Martin.
- Munroe, John A. (2004). The Philadelawareans. Newark: University of Delaware Press. ISBN 0-87413-872-8.
- Munroe, John A. (1954). Federalist Delaware 1775-1815. New Brunswick: Rutgers University.
- Wilson, W. Emerson (1969). Forgotten Heroes of Delaware. Cambridge, MA: Deltos Publishing Company.
[edit] Images
- Martin, Roger A. (2003). Delawareans in Congress: The House of Representatives, Vol. One 1789-1900. Newark: Roger A. Martin. ISBN 0-924117-26-5. Portrait courtesy of the Delaware Public Archives.
- U.S. Congress (2005). Biographical Dictionary of the U.S. Congress. Retrieved on 2006-06-01. Portrait courtesy of the U.S. Congress.
[edit] External links
- Appletons' Cyclopedia of American Biography (2001). John Vining. Virtual American Biographies, Evisum Inc. Retrieved on 2006-06-01.
- Bickford, Charlene, ed. (2002). Documentary History of the First Federal Congress. Model Editions Partnership. Retrieved on 2006-06-01.
- unknown (2005). John Vining. Find A Grave. Retrieved on 2006-06-01.
- Kestenbaum, Lawrence (2005). The Political Graveyard. Retrieved on 2006-06-01.
- Pickett, Russell S (2005). Delaware and U.S. History. Retrieved on 2006-06-01.
- Scharf, John Thomas (1888). History of Delaware 1609-1888. Accessible Archives, Inc. Retrieved on 2006-06-01.
- U.S. Congress (2005). Biographical Dictionary of the U.S. Congress. Retrieved on 2006-06-01.
[edit] Places with more information
- University of Delaware Library 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 831-2965.
- Historical Society of Delaware 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware (302) 655-7161.
- Historical Society of Pennsylvania 1300 Locust St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (215) 732-6200.
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