List of Members of the United States House of Representatives in the 7th Congress by seniority

This is a list of members of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 7th 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 7th Congress (March 4, 1801 – March 3, 1803). 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. In the absence of information to the contrary, it is presumed that the twenty-first century practice is identical to the seniority customs used during the 7th 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 December 7, 1801 and Nathaniel Macon (DR-NC) was elected. [2]

Standing Committees

The House created its first standing committee, on April 13, 1789. There were four standing committees, listed in the rules initially used by the 7th Congress. In addition there was a Ways and Means Committee. The Ways and Means Committee was not formally added to the main list of standing committees, until the rules were revised on January 7, 1802. The modern Ways and Means Committee dates its foundation as a standing committee to 1802, but considers the pre-1802 panel to be its forerunner.

Committees, in this period, were appointed for a session at a time and not necessarily for every one in a Congress. The Speaker appointed the members.

This list refers to the standing committees of the House in the 7th 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 December 7, 1801 – May 3, 1802 (148 days) and the second session was December 6, 1802 – March 3, 1803 (88 days).

No. Committee From Mbrs Appointed Chairman
01 Claims 1794 7 December 8, 1801 – May 3, 1802 John C. Smith (F-CT)
December 8, 1802 – March 3, 1803
02 Commerce and Manufactures 1795 7 December 8, 1801 – May 3, 1802 *Samuel Smith (DR-MD)
December 8, 1802 – March 3, 1803
03 Elections 1789 7 December 8, 1801 – May 3, 1802 John Milledge (DR-GA)
December 8, 1802 – March 3, 1803 John Bacon (DR-MA)
04 Revisal and Unfinished Business 1795 3 December 8, 1801 – May 3, 1802 John Davenport (F-CT)
December 8, 1802 – March 3, 1803
05 Ways and Means [1794] 1802 9 December 8, 1801 – May 3, 1802 John Randolph (DR-VA)
7 December 14, 1802 – March 3, 1803

List of Representatives by seniority

A numerical rank is assigned to each of the 106 members initially elected to the 7th 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.

Twelve Representatives-elect were not sworn in, as one died and eleven 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
Seven consecutive terms
001 George Thatcher F MA-14 01789-03-04 March 4, 1789 (P) 1789-95. Resigned as Representative-elect. [4]
Six consecutive terms
002 Andrew Gregg DR PA-9 01791-03-04 March 4, 1791 (A) 1791-95
003 William B. Grove F NC-7 (P) 1791-95. Last term.
004 Nathaniel Macon DR NC-5 (A) 1791-95. Speaker of the House.
Six non-consecutive terms
005 William B. Giles DR VA-9 01801-03-04 March 4, 1801 Previosly served (A) December 7, 1790-95 and (DR) 1795-
October 2, 1798. Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801. Last term.
Five consecutive terms
006 Anthony New DR VA-16 01793-03-04 March 4, 1793 (A) 1793-95. Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801.
007 Samuel Smith DR MD-5 (A) 1793-95. Elected to this Congress: April 6, 1801. Chairman:
Commerce and Manufactures. Last term until 14th Congress.
008 Philip Van Cortlandt DR NY-3 (A) 1793-95
009 Peleg Wadsworth F MA-13 (P) 1793-95
Five non-consecutive terms
010 Thomas Sumter DR SC-4 01797-03-04 March 4, 1797 Previously served (A) 1789-93. Resigned, to become US Senator:
December 15, 1801.
011 Abiel Foster F NH-al 01795-03-04 March 4, 1795 Previously served (P) June 22, 1789-91. Last term.
012 Daniel Hiester DR MD-4 01801-03-04 March 4, 1801 Previously served (PA-A) 1789-95 and (PA-DR) 1795-July 1, 1796.
Elected to this Congress: April 6, 1801.
Four consecutive terms
013 Samuel J. Cabell DR VA-14 01795-03-04 March 4, 1795 Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801. Last term.
014 Albert Gallatin DR PA-12 Resigned as Representative-elect, to become Secretary of the
Treasury [5]
015 Roger Griswold F CT-al
016 Joseph B. Varnum DR MA-9
017 Samuel W. Dana F CT-al 01797-01-03 January 3, 1797
Four non-consecutive terms
018 Thomas Claiborne DR VA-8 01801-03-04 March 4, 1801 Previously served (A) 1793-95 and (DR) 1795-99. Elected to this
Congress: April 22, 1801.
019 Peter Muhlenberg DR PA-4 01799-03-04 March 4, 1799 Previously served (A) 1789-91 and 1793-95. Resigned, as
Representative-elect, to become a US Senator. [6]
020 Israel Smith DR VT-1 01801-03-04 March 4, 1801 Previously served (A) October 17, 1791-95 and (DR) 1795-97.
Last term.
Three consecutive terms
021 James A. Bayard F DE-al 01797-03-04 March 4, 1797 Last term (elected to 9th Congress but did not serve)
022 Matthew Clay DR VA-6 Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801
023 Thomas T. Davis DR KY-1 Elected to this Congress: August 3, 1801. Last term.
024 John Dawson DR VA-15 Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801
025 John Dennis F MD-8 Elected to this Congress: April 6, 1801
026 Lucas C. Elmendorf DR NY-4 Last term
027 John Fowler DR KY-2 Elected to this Congress: August 3, 1801
028 John A. Hanna DR PA-6
029 David Holmes DR VA-2 Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801
030 John Rutledge, Jr. F SC-2 Last term
031 William Shepard F MA-2
032 Richard Stanford DR NC-4
033 Abram Trigg DR VA-4 Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801
034 John J. Trigg DR VA-5
035 Robert Williams DR NC-3 Last term
036 Lewis R. Morris F VT-2 01797-05-22 May 22, 1797
037 William Edmond F CT-al 01797-11-13 November 13, 1797 Resigned as Representative-elect: c. August 1801 [7]
038 William Claiborne DR TN-al 01797-11-23 November 23, 1797 Elected to this Congress: August 3-4, 1801. Resigned as
Representative-elect: September 22, 1801. [8]
039 Joseph Hiester DR PA-5 01798-12-01 December 1, 1798
040 Robert Brown DR PA-4 01798-12-04 December 4, 1798
Three non-consecutive terms
041 Richard Brent DR VA-17 01801-03-04 March 4, 1801 Previously (DR) 1795-99. Elected to this Congress:
April 22, 1801. Last term.
042 John Clopton DR VA-13 Previously served (DR) 1795-99. Elected to this Congress:
April 22, 1801.
043 George Jackson DR VA-3 01799-03-04 March 4, 1799 Previously served (DR) 1795-97. Elected to this Congress:
April 22, 1801. Last term.
044 John Smilie DR PA-11 Previously served (A) 1793-95
045 Richard Sprigg, Jr. DR MD-2 01801-03-04 March 4, 1801 Previously served (DR) May 5, 1796-99. Elected to this Congress:
April 6, 1801. Resigned February 11, 1802.
Two consecutive terms
046 Willis Alston DR NC-9 01799-03-04 March 4, 1799
047 John Bird F NY-6 Resigned as Representative-elect: July 25, 1801 [9]
048 Phanuel Bishop DR MA-7
049 John Condit DR NJ-al Last term until 16th Congress
050 John Davenport F CT-al Chairman: Revisal and Unfinished Business
051 Edwin Gray DR VA-10 Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801
052 Archibald Henderson F NC-2 Last term
053 William H. Hill F NC-6
054 Benjamin Huger F SC-3
055 James Jones F GA-al Died as Representative-elect: January 11, 1801 [10]
056 Silas Lee F MA-12 Resigned as Representative-elect: August 20, 1801 [11]
057 Michael Leib DR PA-2
058 Joseph H. Nicholson DR MD-7 Elected to this Congress: April 6, 1801
059 John Randolph DR VA-7 Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801. Chairman: Ways and Means.
060 David Stone DR NC-8 Resigned, as Representative-elect, to become a US Senator [12]
061 Benjamin Taliaferro DR GA-al (F) 1799-1801. Resigned February 1802.
062 Lemuel Williams F MA-5
063 Henry Woods F PA-10 Last term
064 Elizur Goodrich F CT-al 01799-09-16 September 16, 1799 Special election. Resigned as Repreentative-elect: March 3, 1801. [13]
065 John Smith DR NY-1 01800-02-06 February 6, 1800
066 Nathan Read F MA-10 01800-11-25 November 25, 1800 Last term
067 John C. Smith F CT-al 01800-11-17 November 17, 1800 Chairman: Claims
068 Samuel Tenney F NH-al 01800-11-18 November 18, 1800
069 Levi Lincoln DR MA-4 01800-12-15 December 15, 1800 Resigned, as Representative-elect, to become Attorney General:
March 5, 1801 [14]
070 John Stewart DR PA-8 01801-01-15 January 15, 1801
071 Ebenezer Mattoon F MA-3 01801-02-02 February 2, 1801 Last term
Two non-consecutive terms
072 James Holland DR NC-1 01801-03-04 March 4, 1801 Previously served (DR) 1795-97
073 Thomas Tillinghast DR RI-al Previously served (F) November 13, 1797-99. Last term.
One term
074 John Archer DR MD-6 01801-03-04 March 4, 1801 Elected to this Congress: April 6, 1801
075 John Bacon DR MA-1 Elected to this Congress: March 9, 1801. Chairman: Elections
(1802–03). Only term.
076 Thomas Boude F PA-7 Only term
077 William Butler DR SC-5
078 John Campbell F MD-1 Elected to this Congress: April 6, 1801
079 Manasseh Cutler F MA-11
080 Ebenezer Elmer DR NJ-al
081 William Eustis DR MA-8
082 William Helms DR NJ-al
083 Joseph Hemphill F PA-3 Only term until 16th Congress
084 William Jones DR PA-1 Only term
085 Thomas Lowndes F SC-1
086 Samuel L. Mitchill DR NY-2
087 Thomas Moore DR SC-6
088 Thomas Morris F NY-10 Only term
089 James Mott DR NJ-al
090 Thomas Newton, Jr. DR VA-11 Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801
091 Joseph Peirce F NH-al Resigned 1802
092 Elias Perkins F CT-al Only term
093 Thomas Plater F MD-3 Elected to this Congress: April 6, 1801
094 John Smith DR VA-1 Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801
095 Josiah Smith DR MA-6 Elected to this Congress: March 9, 1801. Only term.
096 Henry Southard DR NJ-al
097 John Stanly F NC-10 Only term until 11th Congress
098 Joseph Stanton, Jr. DR RI-al Elected to this Congress: April 15, 1801
099 John Stratton F VA-12 Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801. Only term.
100 John Taliaferro DR VA-1 Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801. Only term until 12th Congress.
101 David Thomas DR NY-7
102 Thomas Tillotson DR NY-7 Resigned as Representative-elect: August 10, 1801 [15]
103 Philip R. Thompson DR VA-18 Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801
104 George B. Upham F NH-al
105 Killian K. Van Rensselaer F NY-8
106 Benjamin Walker F NY-9 Only term
Members joining the House, after the start of the Congress
... John Milledge DR GA-al 01801-03-23 March 23, 1801 Previously served (A) November 22, 1792-93 and (DR) 1795-99.
Special election. Chairman: Elections (1801–02).
Resigned to become Governor: November 9, 1802.
... Calvin Goddard F CT-al 01801-05-18 May 18, 1801 Special election: April 9, 1801
... Richard Cutts DR MA-14 01801-06-22 June 22, 1801 Special election
... Charles Johnson DR NC-8 01801-08-07 August 7, 1801 Special election: August 6-7, 1801. Died July 23, 1802.
... Seth Hastings F MA-14 01801-08-24 August 24, 1801 Special election. Seated January 11, 1802.
... Benjamin Tallmadge F CT-al 01801-09-21 September 21, 1801 Special election
... Theodorus Bailey DR NY-5 01801-10-06 October 6, 1801 Previouly served (A) 1793-95 and (DR) 1795-97 and 1799-1801.
Special election: October 6-8, 1801. Last term.
... John P. Van Ness DR NY-6 Special election: October 6-8, 1801. Seated December 7, 1801.
Seat declared forfeited: January 17, 1803.
... William Hoge DR PA-12 01801-10-13 October 13, 1801 Special election
... Isaac Van Horne DR PA-4
... William Dickson DR TN-al 01801-10-30 October 30, 1801 Special election: October 29-30, 1801
... Walter Bowie DR MD-2 01802-03-24 March 24, 1802 Special election: March 2, 1802
... Samuel Hunt F NH-al 01802-12-06 December 6, 1802 Special election: August 30, 1802
... David Meriwether DR GA-al Special election: April 5, 1802
... Samuel Thatcher F MA-12 Special election: July 29, 1802
... Thomas Wynns DR NC-8 01802-12-07 December 7, 1802 Special election: October 15, 1802
... Peter Early DR GA-al 01803-01-10 January 10, 1803 Special election: December 15, 1802
... Richard Winn DR SC-4 01803-01-24 January 24, 1803 Previouly served (A) 1793-95 and (DR) 1795-97. Special election: April 12-14, 1802.
Non voting members
a Paul Fearing F OH-al 01801-03-04 March 4, 1801 Delegate for Northwest Territory (future OH).
Term ended on OH admission.
b Narsworthy Hunter - MS-al Delegate for Mississippi Territory. Died March 11, 1802.
c Thomas M. Greene, Jr. DR MS-al 01802-12-06 December 6, 1802 Delegate for Mississippi Territory. Special election. 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 7th Congress for the dates of appointment specified.
  4. ^ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 22) and resignation (note 9 on page 25).
  5. ^ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 22) and resignation (note 15 on page 25).
  6. ^ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 22) and resignation (note 14 on page 25).
  7. ^ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 22) and resignation (note 1 on page 25).
  8. ^ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 23) and resignation (note 18 on page 25).
  9. ^ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 22) and resignation (note 12 on page 25).
  10. ^ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 22) and death (note 3 on page 25).
  11. ^ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 22) and resignation (note 8 on page 25).
  12. ^ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 22) and resignation (note 13 on page 25).
  13. ^ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 22) and resignation (note 2 on page 25).
  14. ^ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 22) and resignation (note 7 on page 25).
  15. ^ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 22) and resignation (note 11 on page 25).
 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

See also

External links