John Patten (representative)
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| Major John Patten | |
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| In office March 4, 1795 – March 3, 1797 |
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| Preceded by | Henry Latimer |
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| Succeeded by | James A. Bayard |
| In office March 4, 1793 – February 14, 1794 |
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| Preceded by | John M. Vining |
| Succeeded by | Henry Latimer |
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| In office November 7, 1785 – November 3, 1786 |
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| Born | April 26, 1746 Kent County, Delaware |
| Died | December 26, 1800 (aged 54) Dover, Delaware |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
| Spouse | Ann Haslet Mary Miller Loockerman |
| Residence | Dover, Delaware |
| Occupation | farmer |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
Major John Patten (April 26, 1746 – December 26, 1800) was an American farmer and politician from Dover, in Kent County, Delaware. He was an officer of the Continental Army in the American Revolution, a Continental Congressman from Delaware, and a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly and as U.S. Representative from Delaware.
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[edit] Early life and family
Patten was born April 26, 1746 Tynhead Court, near Dover, Delaware, son of John Patten and Ann Maxwell. This property was on the present Dover Air Force Base, near the farms of Caesar Rodney and John Dickinson. He was a farmer, who after the American Revolution married Ann Haslet, daughter of the first Colonel of the 1st Delaware Regiment, John Haslet. She died soon thereafter, and he married Mary Miller Loockerman, daughter of the Rev. John Miller and widow of Vincent Loockerman.
[edit] American Revolution
Patten was commissioned a first lieutenant in Captain John Caldwell's 2nd Company of the 1st Delaware Regiment at the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. He was soon promoted to captain of the 1st Company and in February 1779 and was promoted to the rank of major. He fought in every major battle from the Battle of Long Island until the Battle of Camden, where the Delaware Regiment suffered grievous losses, and he was taken prisoner. Paroled in 1781, after the fighting was over, he is said to have walked home alone in rags from Charleston, South Carolina.
[edit] Political career
Patten was elected in 1785 to the State House or House of Assembly, as it was then known, and represented Kent County, during the 1785/86 session. At the same time he was elected to the Continental Congress in 1785 and served there one year. He won a closely contested election to the U.S. House in 1792 and took his seat in the U.S. House on March 4, 1793. However, Henry Latimer, the Federalist candidate contested the election, claiming that many ballots were invalid because they were filled out incorrectly. After a lengthy study the Federalist majority in the U.S. House voted on February 14, 1794 to invalidate enough ballots to award the seat to Latimer. A few months later Patten again defeated Latimer, and this time served the whole term, from March 4, 1795 until March 3, 1797. Brought out of political retirement in 1800, Patten was defeated for the U.S. House seat by the incumbent Federalist James A. Bayard.
[edit] Death and legacy
Patten died December 26, 1800, at his home, Tynhead Court, near Dover, Delaware, and is buried in the Presbyterian Churchyard in Dover. He had a home on the north side of Front Street, between Orange and Tatnall Streets in Wilmington, Delaware, but was always a legal resident of Kent County. He was active in the Philadelphia Society for promoting Agriculture, the Society of the Cincinnati, and the Lyceum of Delaware.
[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.
The General Assembly chose the delegates to the Continental Congress. Members of the U.S. House took office 4th of March for a two year term.
| Office | Type | Location | Party | Elected | Took Office | Left Office | notes |
| State House | Legislature | Dover | October 1, 1785 | October 20, 1785 | October 20, 1786 | ||
| Continental Congress | Legislature | New York | November 4, 1785 | November 7, 1785 | November 3, 1786 | ||
| U.S. Representative | Legislature | Philadelphia | Democratic-Republican | 1792 | March 4, 1793 | February 14, 1794 | [1] |
| U.S. Representative | Legislature | Philadelphia | Democratic-Republican | 1794 | March 4, 1795 | March 3, 1797 |
[edit] Election results
| Year | Office | Subject | Party | votes | % | Opponent | Party | votes | % | ||
| 1792 | U.S. Representative | John Patten | Democratic-Republican | 2,273 | 50% | Henry Latimer | Federalist | 2,243 | 50% | ||
| 1794 | U.S. Representative | John Patten | Democratic-Republican | 2,409 | 51% | Henry Latimer | Federalist | 2,285 | 49% | ||
| 1800 | U.S. Representative | John Patten | Democratic-Republican | 2,340 | 47% | James A. Bayard, Sr. | Federalist | 2,674 | 53% |
[edit] Notes
- ^ election successfully contested and seat awarded to Henry Latimer
[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.
- Ward, Christopher (1941). The Delaware Continentals. Wilmington, DE: Historical Society of Delaware. ISBN 0-924117-21-4.
- 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.
[edit] External links
- Pickett, Russ (2003). John Patten. 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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