Nicholas Van Dyke (senator)
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| Nicholas Van Dyke | |
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| March 4, 1817 – May 21, 1826 | |
| Preceded by | William H. Wells |
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| Succeeded by | Daniel Rodney |
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| October 6, 1807 – March 3, 1811 | |
| Preceded by | James M. Broom |
| Succeeded by | Henry M. Ridgely |
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| Born | December 8, 1770 New Castle Delaware |
| Died | May 21, 1826 New Castle Delaware |
| Residence | New Castle Delaware |
| Political party | Federalist Party |
| Spouse | Mary Ann Leuvaneigh |
| Profession | lawyer |
| Religion | Episcopalian |
Nicholas Van Dyke (December 8, 1770 – May 21, 1826) was an American lawyer and politician from New Castle Delaware. He was a member of the Federalist Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly, and as U.S. Representative from Delaware, and as U.S. Senator from Delaware.
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[edit] Early life and family
Van Dyke was born December 8, 1769 in New Castle Delaware, son of Nicholas and Charlotte Stanley Van Dyke. His father had been a member of the Continental Congress and a President of Delaware. The younger Nicholas graduated from the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University in 1788, studied law with his brother-in-law, Kensy Johns, and was admitted to the Bar in New Castle, in 1792. He married Mary Ann Leuvaneigh in 1792. They had six children, including Nicholas III, Kensey Johns, and Dorcas Montgomery and lived at many houses in and around New Castle. One of these was at the corner of Delaware and Fourth Streets and was the location of the 1824 wedding of Dorcas Van Dyke and Charles I. du Pont, which was attended by the Marquis de Lafayette. The family were members of Immanuel Episcopal Church.
[edit] Political career
Van Dyke was a Federalist who was a member of the Delaware House of Representatives in 1799, and was elected to the 10th U.S. Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of U.S. Representative James M. Broom. He was reelected to the 11th U.S. Congress, and served in the U.S. House from October 6, 1807 until March 3, 1811. With the Federalists a powerless minority in Congress, he returned home to serve as the Attorney General of Delaware. Subsequently, he was elected to the Delaware State Senate for the 1816 and 1817 sessions. While serving there he was elected to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1817 until his death on May 21, 1826. He was Chairman of the Committee on Pensions in the 16th U.S. Congress.
[edit] Death and legacy
Van Dyke died May 21, 1826, in New Castle Delaware, and is buried in the Immanuel Episcopal Church Cemetery in New Castle. He was compared to other lawyers by one who knew him as a "sound lawyer and superior to them all as a fluent, graceful and successful advocate and in the skillful management of his cases." [1]
[edit] Public offices
Elections were held the first Tuesday of October and members of the General Assembly took office on the first Tuesday of January. The State Senate had a term of three years and the State House had a term of one year. Members of the U.S. House took office 4th of March for a two year term.
The General Assembly chose the U.S. Senators, who took office the March 4th for a six year term.
| Office | Type | Location | Elected | Took Office | Left Office | notes |
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| State Representative | Legislature | Dover | 1798 | January 1, 1799 | January 7, 1800 | |
| State Attorney General | Executive | Dover | 1801 | 1806 | ||
| U.S. Representative | Legislature | Washington | 1807 | October 6, 1807 | March 3, 1809 | at-large [2] |
| U.S. Representative | Legislature | Washington | 1808 | March 4, 1809 | March 3, 1811 | |
| State Senator | Legislature | Dover | 1815 | January 6, 1816 | March 3, 1817 | |
| U.S. Senator | Legislature | Washington | March 4, 1817 | March 3, 1823 | class 2 | |
| U.S. Senator | Legislature | Washington | March 4, 1823 | May 21, 1826 | class 2 |
[edit] Election results
| Year | Office | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | notes | ||
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| 1807 | U.S. Representative | Nicholas Van Dyke | Federalist | 3,294 | 52% | John Dickinson | Democratic-Republican | 3,078 | 48% | [3] | ||
| 1808 | U.S. Representative | Nicholas Van Dyke | Federalist | 3,242 | 53% | Joseph Haslet | Democratic-Republican | 2,837 | 47% |
[edit] Notes
- ^ Rodney, Richard S. (1975). The Collected Essays of Richard S. Rodney on Early Delaware. Wilmington, DE: The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Delaware.
- ^ elected to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James M. Broom, seated December 2, 1807
- ^ Special election August 6, 1807 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James M. Broom.
[edit] References
- Martin, Roger A. (1995). Memoirs of the Senate. Newark, DE: Roger A. Martin.
- Martin, Roger A. (2003). Delawareans in Congress. Middletown, DE: Roger A. Martin. ISBN 0-924117-26-5.
- Rodney, Richard S. (1975). The Collected Essays of Richard S. Rodney on Early Delaware. Wilmington, DE: The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Delaware.
- Scharf, John Thomas (1888). History of Delaware 1609-1888. 2 vols.. Philadelphia: L. J. Richards & Co..
- Conrad, Henry C. (1908). History of the State of Delaware, 3 vols.. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Wickersham Company.
[edit] External links
- Biographical Dictionary of the U.S. Congress. [1].
- Delaware’s Senators [2].
- Find a Grave. [3]
- History of Delaware 1609-1888 [4]
- New Castle Historical Society [5]
[edit] Places with more information
- Historical Society of Delaware [6] 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware (302) 655-7161
- University of Delaware Library [7] 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 831-2965
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