Joseph P. Comegys

Joseph P. Comegys
Chief Justice of Delaware
In office May 18, 1876 – January 26, 1893
Preceded by	Edward W. Gilpin
Succeeded by	Alfred P. Robinson
United States Senator from Delaware
In office November 19, 1856 – January 14, 1857
Preceded by	John M. Clayton
Succeeded by	Martin W. Bates
Personal details
Born	(1813-12-29)December 29, 1813 Dover, Delaware
Died	February 1, 1893(1893-02-01) (aged 79) Dover, Delaware
Political party	Whig Democratic
Spouse(s)	Margaret A. Douglass
Residence	Dover, Delaware
Profession	lawyer

Joseph Parsons Comegys (December 29, 1813 – February 1, 1893) was a lawyer and politician from Dover, in Kent County, Delaware. He was a member of the Whig Party and later the Democratic Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly, as a U.S. Senator from Delaware, and later as the Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court.

Early life and family

Comegys was born at “Cherbourg,” in Kent County, Delaware, near Dover, the son of former Governor Cornelius P. Comegys and Ruhamah Marim. He attended the old academy at Dover, studied law with John M. Clayton, was admitted to the Bar in 1835 and commenced practice in Dover. He married Clayton's niece, Margaret A. Douglass and had three children.

Professional and political career

Comegys was elected as a member of the State House twice, and served in the 1843/44 and 1849/50 sessions. He was also a member of the commission to revise the State Constitution in 1852. On November 19, 1856, he was appointed to the U.S. Senate, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John M. Clayton. He did not run again, and served until January 14, 1857, when his successor was elected. After many years in private practice he was appointed chief justice of the State Supreme Court on May 18, 1876 and served until January 26, 1893, just before his death.

Death and legacy

Comegys died at Dover and is buried there in the Old Presbyterian Cemetery, on the grounds of the Delaware State Museum.

References

• 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. 

Images

• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress; portrait courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Almanac

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. Members of the Delaware General Assembly took office the first Tuesday of January. State Representatives have a two-year term. The General Assembly chose the U.S. Senators, who took office March 4 for a six-year term. They also chose the delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1852.

External links

• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Delaware’s Members of Congress
• Find a Grave
• The Political Graveyard

United States Senators from Delaware Class 1 Read Latimer White Horsey C Rodney Thomas Clayton McLane Naudain R Bayard John M. Clayton Wales J Bayard Jr Riddle J Bayard Jr T Bayard Sr Gray Ball H du Pont Wolcott TC du Pont T Bayard Jr Townsend Tunnell Williams Roth Carper Class 2 Bassett Vining Joshua Clayton Wells J Bayard Sr Wells Van Dyke D Rodney Ridgely John M. Clayton Thomas Clayton Spruance John M. Clayton Comegys Bates W Saulsbury Sr E Saulsbury Higgins Kenney Allee Richardson W Saulsbury Jr Ball TC du Pont Hastings Hughes Buck Frear Boggs Biden Kaufman Coons