Outerbridge Horsey
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| Outerbridge Horsey | |
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| In office January 12, 1810 – March 3, 1821 |
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| Preceded by | Samuel White [1] |
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| Succeeded by | Caesar A. Rodney [2] |
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| Born | March 5, 1777 Sussex County, Delaware |
| Died | June 9, 1842 (aged 65) Frederick County, Maryland |
| Political party | Federalist |
| Spouse | Eliza Lee |
| Residence | Georgetown, Delaware Wilmington, Delaware |
| Profession | lawyer |
Outerbridge Horsey (March 5, 1777 – June 9, 1842), was an American lawyer and politician from Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a member of the Federalist Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly, as Delaware Attorney General and as United States Senator from Delaware.
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[edit] Early life and family
Horsey was born March 5, 1777 in Little Creek Hundred, near Laurel, Delaware. First living in Georgetown, Delaware, he moved to Wilmington, and studied the law there under James A. Bayard, who remained his lifelong political mentor. He was admitted to the New Castle County bar in December 1807, and began a practice in Wilmington. He married Eliza Lee, daughter of Thomas Lee of Maryland.
[edit] Political career
After representing Sussex County in the State House from the 1801 session through the 1803 session, Horsey was appointed Attorney General of Delaware and served from 1806 to 1810.
In 1810 he was elected to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of U.S. Senator Samuel White. He was reelected in 1814, and served from January 12, 1810,[3] to March 3, 1821. While in the Senate he strongly opposed the War of 1812, but once it began, supported it equally strongly. Accordingly, he became a member of the Committee of Safety and was actively involved in preparing the defenses of Wilmington and Fort Union there. In March 1814 Horsey presented a petition from the citizens of Delaware to repeal the Embargo Act of 1807, but while able to get the appointment of a committee to consider the repeal, was ultimately unsuccessful.
Several years later, he parted ways with the Delaware General Assembly which had passed a resolution asking Delaware's congressmen to vote against any extension of slavery. Horsey did not feel U.S. Congress had the right to prohibit slavery in Missouri, or anywhere else in the Louisiana Purchase, and so supported the Missouri Compromise. Understanding the unpopularity of this position he did not seek reelection when his term ended. During the 16th Congress, he served as Chairman of the Committee on the District of Columbia.
[edit] Death and legacy
Horsey died June 9, 1842 at Needwood, his wife's estate near Petersville in Frederick County, Maryland and is buried in St. John’s Cemetery, Frederick, Maryland.
A frequent supporter of education, Horsey, early in his career, urged the establishment of a library in Georgetown, and later was appointed a trustee of the College of Wilmington.
[edit] Public offices
Elections were held the first Tuesday of October. Members of the State House took office on the first Tuesday of January for a term of one year. The General Assembly chose the U.S Senators, who took office March 4 and served for a six year term.
| Office | Type | Location | Elected | Took Office | Left Office | notes |
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| State Representative | Legislature | Dover | 1800 | January 6, 1801 | January 5, 1802 | |
| State Representative | Legislature | Dover | 1801 | January 5, 1802 | January 4, 1803 | |
| State Representative | Legislature | Dover | 1802 | January 4, 1803 | January 3, 1804 | |
| State Attorney General | Executive | Dover | 1806 | 1810 | ||
| U.S. Senator | Legislature | Washington | January 12, 1810 | March 3, 1815 | class 1 | |
| U.S. Senator | Legislature | Washington | March 4, 1815 | March 3, 1821 | class 1 |
[edit] Notes
- ^ this seat was vacant from November 4, 1809 until January 12, 1810.
- ^ this seat was vacant from March 4, 1821 until January 23, 1822.
- ^ seated January 29, 1810.
[edit] References
- Martin, Roger A. (1995). Memoirs of the Senate. Newark, DE: Roger A. Martin.
- Munroe, John A. (1954). Federalist Delaware 1775-1815. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University.
- Wilson, W. Emerson (1969). Forgotten Heroes of Delaware. Cambridge, MA: Deltos Publishing Company.
[edit] External links
- Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress [1]
- Delaware’s Senators [2]
- Find a Grave [3]
- History of Delaware 1609-1888 [4]
- The Political Graveyard [5]
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