Nathaniel Mitchell
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| Nathaniel Mitchell | |
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| Continental Congressman Governor of Delaware |
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| Born | 1753 Laurel, Delaware |
| Died | February 21, 1815 Laurel, Delaware |
| Residence | Laurel, Delaware |
| Political party | Federalist |
| Religion | Episcopalian |
| Spouse | Hannah Morris |
Nathaniel Mitchell (1753 – February 21, 1815) was an American lawyer and politician from Laurel, in Sussex County, Delaware. He was an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, a Continental Congressman from Delaware, and a member of the Federalist Party, who served as Governor of Delaware.
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[edit] Early life and family
Mitchell was born in 1752 near Laurel, Delaware, son of James & Margaret Dagworthy Mitchell. He married Hannah Morris and had seven children: William I., Theodore, Alfred, Dagworthy, Elizabeth, Mary Ann, and Elizabeth. Mitchell was one of the founders of Georgetown, Delaware, and lived there on the northeast corner of the Square from about 1791 until 1808. The family returned to their Laurel home, Rosemont, now 121 Delaware Avenue in 1808. They were members of Christ Episcopal Church at Broad Creek.
[edit] American Revolution
Mitchell was an officer of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. In 1776 he was captain of a Delaware company raised under Colonel Samuel Patterson as part of what was known as the "Flying Camp." They were stationed at Perth Amboy, New Jersey and saw no action. When the "Flying Camp" disbanded the company was attached to Colonel David Hall's regiment, but fought with Colonel William Grayson's Virginians at the Battle of Brandywine. Nursing an illness he was not at Germantown, but spent the winter at Valley Forge. Following William Grayson's promotion to Brigadier-General, Mitchell led his regiment in the attack at the Battle of Monmouth. This was the attack that was ordered back by General Charles Lee and which eventually led to his court-martial. In 1779 he was brigade Major on General Peter Muhlenburg's staff in the tidewater Virginia. When British General Benedict Arnold attacked Richmond, Virginia, Mitchell was defending Petersburg, Virginia when he was captured on May 10, 1781. He was held prisoner until after the Battle of Yorktown.
[edit] Political career
Mitchell served as Delaware's delegate to the Continental Congress during its last two years from his election on October 27, 1786 until the Congress was replaced by the new government under the United States Constitution of 1787. Following that he was Prothonotary for Sussex County. In 1801 he ran for Governor of Delaware, losing to David Hall, the Democratic-Republican candidate. Hall was another veteran of the American Revolution who ran a campaign critical of Mitchell's alleged deistic Anglicanism. Mitchell lost heavily Presbyterian New Castle County by just enough votes to overcome his wide margins elsewhere. Three years later, in 1804 he was successful, beating Joseph Haslet, the Democratic-Republican candidate. Mitchell served as Governor of Delaware from January 15, 1805 until January 19, 1808.
[edit] Death and legacy
Mitchell died February 21, 1815 at his home in Laurel, Delaware. He may have been buried there at first, but was later removed to Christ Church, or Broad Creek, Episcopal Church Cemetery.
Hannah, Nathaniel Mitchell's widow, later married Colonel Manaen Bull, a British soldier who became a resident of Laurel after the American Revolution. He had the first store there, on the northwest corner of Delaware Avenue and Market Street. They lived near Trap Pond. Unlike Mitchell, Bull was a Democrat-Republican and ran for Governor of Delaware in 1816 and 1819, losing to John Clark and Henry Molleston.
No known portrait exists of Nathaniel Mitchell.
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by David Hall |
Governor of Delaware January 15, 1805 – January 19, 1808 |
Succeeded by George Truitt |
[edit] Public offices
Elections were held the first Tuesday of October. Members of the Delaware General Assembly took office the first Tuesday of January. State Senators had a three year term and State Representatives had a one year term. The Governor takes office the third Tuesday of January and had a three year term. The General Assembly elected the Continental Congressmen for a term of one year.
| Office | Type | Location | Elected | Took Office | Left Office | notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delegate | Legislature | Philadelphia | 1786 | October 27, 1786 | March 4, 1789 | Continental Congress |
| Prothonotary | Judiciary | Georgetown | 1788 | 1805 | Sussex County | |
| Governor | Executive | Dover | 1804 | January 15, 1805 | January 19, 1808 | |
| State Representative | Legislature | Dover | 1808 | January 6, 1809 | January 6, 1810 | |
| State Senator | Legislature | Dover | 1809 | January 6, 1810 | January 6, 1812 |
[edit] Election results
| Year | Office | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1801 | Governor | Nathaniel Mitchell | Federalist | 3,457 | 50% | David Hall | Democratic-Republican | 3,475 | 50% | ||
| 1804 | Governor | Nathaniel Mitchell | Federalist | 4,436 | 52% | Joseph Haslet | Democratic-Republican | 4,050 | 48% |
[edit] References
- Sobel, Robert, John Racino (1988). Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States 1789-1978, Vol. 1. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-930466-00-4.
- Hoffecker, Carol E. (2004). Democracy in Delaware. Wilmington, Delaware: Cedar Tree Books. ISBN 1-892142-23-6.
- Munroe, John A. (1954). Federalist Delaware 1775-1815. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University.
- Wilson, Emerson (1969). Forgotten Heroes of Delaware. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Deltos Publishing Company.
- Scharf, John Thomas (1888). History of Delaware 1609-1888. 2 vols.. Philadelphia: L. J. Richards & Co.. ISBN 0-87413-493-5.
- 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.
[edit] External links
- Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress
- Delaware & U.S. History
- Find a Grave
- The Political Graveyard
[edit] Places with more information
- Corbit-Calloway Memorial Library 2nd and High St., Odessa, Delaware (302) 378-8838
- Historical Society of Delaware 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware (302) 655-7161
- Newark Free Library 750 Library Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 731-7550
- University of Delaware Library 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 831-2965
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