List of Members of the United States House of Representatives in the 10th Congress by seniority

This is a list of members of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 10th United States Congress by seniority. For the most part, representatives are ranked by the beginning of their terms in office.

As an historical article, the districts and party affiliations listed reflect those during the 10th Congress (March 4, 1807 – March 3, 1809). Seats and party affiliations on similar lists for other Congresses will be different for certain members.

This article describes the criteria for seniority in the House of Representatives and sets out the list of members by seniority. It is prepared on the basis of the interpretation of seniority applied to the House of Representatives in the 112th Congress. Without information to the contrary, it is presumed that the twenty-first century practice is identical to the seniority customs used during the 10th Congress.[1]

Contents

House seniority

Seniority in the House, for Congressmen with unbroken service, depends on the date on which the members first term began. That date is either the start of the Congress (4th March in odd numbered years, for the era up to and including the 73rd Congress starting in 1933) or the date of a special election during the Congress. Since many members start serving on the same day as others, ranking between them is based on alphabetical order by the last name of the congressman.

Congressmen, in early Congresses, were often elected after the legal start of the Congress. Such representatives are attributed with unbroken seniority, from the legal start of the congressional term, if they were the first person elected to a seat in a Congress. The date of the election is indicated in a note.

The seniority date is normally taken from the members entry in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, except where the date given is the legal start of the Congress and the actual election (for someone who was not the first person elected to the seat in that Congress) was later. The date of election is taken from United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997. In a few instances the latter work provides dates, for the start and end of terms, which correct those in the Biographical Directory.

The Biographical Directory normally uses the date of a special election, as the seniority date. However, mostly in early Congresses, the date of the member taking his seat can be the one given. The date of the special election is mentioned in a note to the list below, when that date is not used as the seniority date by the Biographical Directory.

Representatives who returned to the House, after having previously served, are credited with service equal to one less than the total number of terms they served. When a representative has served a prior term of less than two terms (i.e. prior term minus one equals less than one), he is ranked above all others whose service begins on the same day.

Leadership

In this Congress the only formal leader was the Speaker of the House. A Speakership ballot was held on October 26, 1807 and Joseph B. Varnum (DR-MA) was elected. [2]

Candidate Ballot
Joseph B. Varnum (DR-MA) 59
Burwell Bassett (DR-VA) 17
Charles Goldsborough (F-MD) 17
Josiah Masters (DR-NY) 8
Thomas Blount (DR-NC) 7
John Dawson (DR-VA) 4
John Smilie (DR-PA) 2
Roger Nelson (DR-MD) 1
Timothy Pitkin (F-CT) 1
Benjamin Tallmadge (F-CT) 1

The title Dean of the House (sometimes known, in the nineteenth century, as Father of the House) was held by the member with the longest continuous service. It was not a leadership position.

Standing Committees

The House created its first standing committee, on April 13, 1789. There were seven standing committees, listed in the rules initially used by the 10th Congress. In 1808, new District of Columbia and Post Office & Post Roads Committees were added as standing committees.

Committees, in this period, were appointed for a session at a time by the Speaker.

This list refers to the standing committees of the House in the 10th Congress, the year of establishment as a standing committee, the number of members assigned to the committee and the dates of appointment in each session, the end of the session and its chairman. Chairmen, who were re-appointed after serving in the previous Congress, are indicated by an *. [3]

The first session was October 26, 1807-April 25, 1808 (182 days) and the second session was November 7, 1808-March 3, 1809 (117 days).

No. Committee From Mbrs Appointed Chairman
01 Accounts 1805 3 October 28, 1807-April 25, 1808 Nicholas R. Moore (DR-MD)
November 8, 1808-March 3, 1809
02 Claims 1794 7 October 28, 1807-April 25, 1808 *David Holmes (DR-VA)
November 8, 1808-March 3, 1809
03 Commerce and Manufactures 1795 7 October 28, 1807-April 25, 1808 Thomas Newton, Jr. (DR-VA)
November 8, 1808-March 3, 1809
04 District of Columbia 1808 7 January 27, 1808-April 25, 1808 Philip B. Key (F-MD)
November 8, 1808-March 3, 1809 Joseph Lewis, Jr. (F-VA)
05 Elections 1789 7 October 28, 1807-April 25, 1808 *William Findley (DR-PA)
November 8, 1808-March 3, 1809
06 Post Office and Post Roads 1808 17 November 9, 1808-March 3, 1809 John Rhea (DR-TN)
07 Public Lands 1805 7 October 28, 1807-April 25, 1808 *John Boyle (DR-KY)
November 8, 1808-March 3, 1809 Jeremiah Morrow (DR-OH)
08 Revisal and Unfinished Business 1795 3 October 28, 1807-April 25, 1808 John Clopton (DR-VA)
November 8, 1808-March 3, 1809
09 Ways and Means 1802 7 October 28, 1807-April 25, 1808 George W. Campbell (DR-TN)
November 8, 1808-March 3, 1809

List of Representatives by seniority

A numerical rank is assigned to each of the 142 members initially elected to the 10th Congress. Other members, who were not the first person elected to a seat but who joined the House during the Congress, are not assigned a number.

Three Representatives-elect were not sworn in, as one died and two resigned. The list below includes the Representatives-elect (with name in italics), with the seniority they would have held if they had been sworn in.

Party designations used in this article are DR for Democratic-Republican members and F for Federalist representatives. Designations used for service in the first three congresses are (A) for Anti-Administration members and (P) for Pro-Administration representatives.

Rank Representative Party District Seniority date Notes
Nine consecutive terms
001 Nathaniel Macon DR NC-6 01791-03-04 March 4, 1791 (A) 1791-95. Dean of the House.
Eight consecutive terms
002 Philip Van Cortlandt DR NY-4 01793-03-04 March 4, 1793 (A) 1793-95. Last term.
Seven consecutive terms
003 Joseph B. Varnum DR MA-4 01795-03-04 March 4, 1795 Speaker of the House
004 Samuel W. Dana F CT-al 01797-01-03 January 3, 1797
Seven non-consecutive terms
005 William Findley DR PA-8 01803-03-04 March 4, 1803 Previously served (A) 1791-95 and (DR) 1795-99. Chairman: Elections.
Six consecutive terms
006 Matthew Clay DR VA-14 01797-03-04 March 4, 1797 Elected to this Congress: April 1807
007 John Dawson DR VA-10
008 David Holmes DR VA-4 Elected to this Congress: April 1807. Chairman: Claims. Last term.
009 Richard Stanford DR NC-8
010 Abram Trigg DR VA-6 Elected to this Congress: April 1807. Last term.
011 Robert Brown DR PA-2 01798-12-04 December 4, 1798
Six non-consecutive terms
012 John Clopton DR VA-22 01801-03-04 March 4, 1801 Previously served (DR) 1795-99. Elected to this Congress: April 1807. Chairman: Revisal and Unfinished Business.
013 John Smilie DR PA-9 01799-03-04 March 4, 1799 Previously served (A) 1793-95
014 Richard Winn DR SC-5 01803-01-24 January 24, 1803 Previouly served (A) 1793-95 and (DR) 1795-97
Five consecutive terms
015 Willis Alston DR NC-2 01799-03-04 March 4, 1799
016 John Davenport F CT-al
017 Edwin Gray DR VA-19 Elected to this Congress: April 1807
018 John Randolph DR VA-15
Five non-consecutive terms
019 David Bard DR PA-4 01803-03-04 March 4, 1803 Previously served (DR) 1795-99
020 Thomas Blount DR NC-3 01805-03-04 March 4, 1805 Previously served (A) 1793-95 and (DR) 1795-99. Last term until 12th Congress.
021 James Holland DR NC-11 01801-03-04 March 4, 1801 Previously served (DR) 1795-97
022 Matthew Lyon DR KY-1 01803-03-04 March 4, 1803 Previously served (DR-VT) 1797–1801
Four consecutive terms
023 William Butler DR SC-2 01801-03-04 March 4, 1801
024 John Campbell F MD-1
025 William Helms DR NJ-al
026 Thomas Moore DR SC-7
027 Thomas Newton, Jr. DR VA-20 Elected to this Congress: April 1807. Chairman: Commerce and Manufactures.
028 John Smith DR VA-3 Elected to this Congress: April 1807
029 Henry Southard DR NJ-al
030 David Thomas DR NY-12 Resigned February 17, 1808 [4]
031 Killian K. Van Rensselaer F NY-9
032 Richard Cutts DR MA-14 01801-06-22 June 22, 1801
033 Benjamin Tallmadge F CT-al 01801-09-21 September 21, 1801
Four non-consecutive terms
034 Walter Jones DR VA-8 01803-03-04 March 4, 1803 Previously served (DR) 1797-99. Elected to this Congress: April 1807.
Three consecutive terms
035 William Blackledge DR NC-4 01803-03-04 March 4, 1803 Last term until 12th Congress
036 John Boyle DR KY-2 Chairman: Public Lands (1807–08). Last term.
037 George W. Campbell DR TN-al Elected to this Congress: August 3-4, 1807. Hamilton District. Chairman: Ways and Means. Last term.
038 Levi Casey DR SC-6 Died as Representative-elect: February 3, 1807 [5]
039 Martin Chittenden F VT-4
040 Joseph Clay DR PA-1 Resigned after March 28, 1808
041 Jacob Crowninshield DR MA-2 Died April 15, 1808
042 James Elliot F VT-2 Last term
043 John W. Eppes DR VA-16 Elected to this Congress: April 1807
044 Peterson Goodwyn DR VA-18
045 John G. Jackson DR VA-1
046 Nehemiah Knight DR RI-al Died June 13, 1808
047 Joseph Lewis, Jr. F VA-7 Elected to this Congress: April 1807. Chairman: District of Columbia (1808–09).
048 William McCreery DR MD-5 Last term
049 Nicholas R. Moore DR MD-5 Chairman: Accounts
050 Jeremiah Morrow DR OH-al Chairman: Public Lands (1808–09)
051 John Rea DR PA-7
052 John Rhea DR TN-al Elected to this Congress: August 3-4, 1807. Washington District. Chairman: Post Office and Post Roads.
053 Jacob Richards DR PA-1 Last term
054 Ebenezer Seaver DR MA-13
055 James Sloan DR NJ-al Last term
056 William Stedman F MA-11
057 Samuel Taggart F MA-6
058 Marmaduke Williams DR NC-9 Last term
059 Daniel C. Verplanck DR NY-6 01803-10-17 October 17, 1803
060 Roger Nelson DR MD-4 01804-11-06 November 6, 1804
061 Alexander Wilson DR VA-5 01804-12-04 December 4, 1804 Elected to this Congress: April 1807. Last term.
062 George Clinton, Jr. DR NY-2/3 01805-02-14 February 14, 1805 Last term
Three non-consecutive terms
063 William Hoge DR PA-10 01807-03-04 March 4, 1807 Previously served (DR) October 13, 1801-October 15, 1804. Last term.
Two consecutive terms
064 Joseph Barker DR MA-7 01805-03-04 March 4, 1805 Last term
065 Burwell Bassett DR VA-12 Elected to this Congress: April 1807
066 Barnabas Bidwell DR MA-12 Resigned, as Representative-elect: July 13, 1807 [6]
067 John Blake, Jr. DR NY-5 Last term
068 John Chandler DR MA-17
069 John Claiborne DR VA-17 Elected to this Congress: April 1807. Died October 9, 1808.
070 Orchard Cook DR MA-16
071 Ezra Darby DR NJ-al Died January 27, 1808
072 William Ely F MA-5
073 James Fisk DR VT-3 Last term until 12th Congress
074 James M. Garnett DR VA-11 Elected to this Congress: April 1807. Last term.
075 Charles Goldsborough F MD-8
076 Isaiah L. Green DR MA-8 Last term until 12th Congress
077 James Kelly F PA-6 Last term
078 John Lambert DR NJ-al Last term
079 Robert Marion DR SC-1
080 Josiah Masters DR NY-10 Last term
081 John Morrow DR VA-2 Elected to this Congress: April 1807. Last term.
082 Jonathan O. Moseley F CT-al
083 Gurdon S. Mumford DR NY-2/3
084 John Pugh DR PA-2 Last term
085 Josiah Quincy F MA-1
086 John Russell DR NY-14 Last term
087 David R. Williams DR SC-3 Last term until 12th Congress
088 Thomas Kenan DR NC-5 01805-08-08 August 8, 1805
089 Timothy Pitkin F CT-al 01805-09-16 September 16, 1805
090 Lewis B. Sturges F CT-al
091 James M. Broom F DE-al 01805-10-01 October 1, 1805 Resigned as Representative-elect: July 1807 [7]
092 Samuel Smith DR PA-11 01805-11-07 November 7, 1805
093 Robert Whitehill DR PA-4
094 Evan S. Alexander DR NC-10 01806-02-24 February 24, 1806 Last term
095 Dennis Smelt DR GA-al 01806-09-01 September 1, 1806
096 William A. Burwell DR VA-13 01806-12-01 December 1, 1806 Elected to this Congress: April 1807
097 Edward Lloyd DR MD-7 01806-12-03 December 3, 1806 Last term
098 John Porter DR PA-1 01806-12-08 December 8, 1806
099 William W. Bibb DR GA-al 01807-01-26 January 26, 1807
Two non-consecutive terms
100 John Thompson DR NY-11 01807-03-04 March 4, 1807 Previously served (DR) 1799–1801
101 Samuel Riker DR NY-1 Previously served (DR) November 5, 1804-05. Last term.
One term
102 Lemuel J. Alston DR SC-8 01807-03-04 March 4, 1807
103 Peter Carleton DR NH-al Only term
104 Epaphroditus Champion F CT-al
105 Howell Cobb DR GA-al
106 John Culpepper F NC-7 Seat declared vacant, after election challenge: January 2, 1808. Only term until re-elected.
107 Josiah Dean DR MA-9 Only term
108 Joseph Desha DR KY-6
109 David M. Durell DR NH-al Only term
110 Meshack Franklin DR NC-12
111 Barent Gardenier F NY-7
112 Francis Gardner DR NH-al Only term
113 John Harris DR NY-17
114 John Hiester DR PA-3
115 Benjamin Howard DR KY-5
116 Reuben Humphrey DR NY-16 Only term
117 Daniel Ilsley DR MA-15
118 Robert Jenkins F PA-3
119 Richard M. Johnson DR KY-4
120 Philip B. Key F MD-3 Chairman: District of Columbia (1808)
121 William Kirkpatrick DR NY-15 Only term
122 Edward S. Livermore F MA-3
123 John Love DR VA-9 Elected to this Congress: April 1807
124 William Milnor F PA-2
125 Daniel Montgomery, Jr. DR PA-5 Only term
126 John Montgomery DR MD-6
127 Thomas Newbold DR NJ-al
128 Wilson C. Nicholas DR VA-21 Elected to this Congress: April 1807
129 Matthias Richards DR PA-3
130 John Rowan DR KY-3 Only term
131 Lemuel Sawyer DR NC-1
132 Jedediah K. Smith DR NH-al Only term
133 Clement Storer DR NH-al
134 Peter Swart DR NY-13
135 John Taylor DR SC-4
136 George M. Troup DR GA-al
137 Jabez Upham F MA-10
138 James I. Van Alen DR NY-8 Only term
139 Archibald Van Horne DR MD-2
140 Jesse Wharton DR TN-al Elected to this Congress: August 3-4, 1807. Mero District. Only term.
141 Isaac Wilbour DR RI-al Only term
142 James Witherell DR VT-1 Resigned May 1, 1808
Members joining the House, after the start of the Congress [8]
... Joseph Calhoun DR SC-6 01807-06-02 June 2, 1807 Special election: June 1-2, 1807
... Ezekiel Bacon DR MA-12 01807-09-16 September 16, 1807 Special election: July 13, 1807
... Nicholas Van Dyke F DE-al 01807-10-06 October 6, 1807 Special election
... John Culpepper F NC-7 01808-02-23 February 23, 1808 Previously served (F) 1807-January 2, 1808. Special election: February 1, 1808. Only term until 13th Congress.
... Adam Boyd DR NJ-al 01808-03-08 March 8, 1808 Previously served (DR) 1803-05. Special election: March 8-9, 1808.
... Joseph Story DR MA-2 01808-05-23 May 23, 1808 Special election: May 4, 1808. Only term.
... Nathan Wilson DR NY-12 01808-06-03 June 3, 1808 Special election: April 26-28, 1808. Only term.
... Samuel Shaw DR VT-1 01808-09-06 September 6, 1808 Special election
... Thomas Gholson, Jr. DR VA-17 01808-11-07 November 7, 1808 Special election: September (8, 12, 26), 1808
... Richard Jackson, Jr. F RI-al 01808-11-11 November 11, 1808 Special election: August 30, 1808
... Benjamin Say DR PA-1 01808-11-16 November 16, 1808 Special election: October 11, 1808
Non voting members
a Daniel Clark - OL-al 01806-12-01 December 1, 1806 Delegate from Orleans Territory. Last term.
b Benjamin Parke - IN-al 01806-12-12 December 12, 1806 Delegate from Indiana Territory. Resigned March 1, 1808.
c George Poindexter - MS-al 01807-03-04 March 4, 1807 Delegate from Mississippi Territory
d Jesse B. Thomas - IN-al 01808-10-22 October 22, 1808 Delegate from Indiana Territory. Only term.

References

  1. ^ 112th Congress official House seniority list
  2. ^ Annals of Congress, for the date of election
  3. ^ Based on Rule X Organisation of Committees, in the House Rules and Manual for the 112th Congress. For membership and chairmen, see the Journal of the House of Representatives for the 10th Congress for the dates of appointment specified.
  4. ^ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, resignation (note 10 on page 38)
  5. ^ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, for election (page 36) and death (note 15 on page 38)
  6. ^ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, for election (page 35) and resignation (note 7 on page 38)
  7. ^ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, for election (page 35) and resignation (note 1 on page 38)
  8. ^ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, for special elections to the 10th Congress (page 37)
 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

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Lists of members of the United States House of Representatives by seniority (and years begun)
   

11 (1809)
12 (1811)
13 (1813)
14 (1815)
15 (1817)
16 (1819)
17 (1821)
18 (1823)
19 (1825)
20 (1827)

21 (1829)
22 (1831)
23 (1833)
24 (1835)
25 (1837)
26 (1839)
27 (1841)
28 (1843)
29 (1845)
30 (1847)

31 (1849)
32 (1851)
33 (1853)
34 (1855)
35 (1857)
36 (1859)
37 (1861)
38 (1863)
39 (1865)
40 (1867)

41 (1869)
42 (1871)
43 (1873)
44 (1875)
45 (1877)
46 (1879)
47 (1881)
48 (1883)
49 (1885)
50 (1887)

51 (1889)
52 (1891)
53 (1893)
54 (1895)
55 (1897)
56 (1899)
57 (1901)
58 (1903)
59 (1905)
60 (1907)

61 (1909)
62 (1911)
63 (1913)
64 (1915)
65 (1917)
66 (1919)
67 (1921)
68 (1923)
69 (1925)
70 (1927)

71 (1929)
72 (1931)
73 (1933)
74 (1935)
75 (1937)
76 (1939)
77 (1941)
78 (1943)
79 (1945)
80 (1947)

81 (1949)
82 (1951)
83 (1953)
84 (1955)
85 (1957)
86 (1959)
87 (1961)
88 (1963)
89 (1965)
90 (1967)

91 (1969)
92 (1971)
93 (1973)
94 (1975)
95 (1977)
96 (1979)
97 (1981)
98 (1983)
99 (1985)
100 (1987)