Joshua Clayton

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Joshua Clayton

Joshua Clayton (born July 20, 1744 in Wyoming , Delaware Colony , † August 11, 1798 in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania ) was an American politician and president or governor of the state of Delaware from 1789 to 1796 . In 1798 he represented his state in the US Senate .

Early years and political advancement

Joshua Clayton attended the University of Pennsylvania , where he studied medicine until 1762. Then he settled in Middletown as a doctor. He was a major during the Revolutionary War and initially served in a unit from Maryland . At times he was a medical officer at General George Washington's headquarters .

Between 1782 and 1784, Clayton was a member of the Provincial Congress and between 1785 and 1787 he was a member of the Delaware House of Representatives . During this time he was also a judge at an appeals court. In 1786 he became Secretary of the Treasury of Delaware. In 1789 he was a co-founder of the Delaware Medical Society.

President and Governor of Delaware

On June 2, 1789, he was elected by the legislature as the new and last President of Delaware. He held this office until 1793. During this time, the state constitution was changed. The title of President of Delaware was abolished and the office of governor was created. According to the new constitution, the governor was now directly elected by the people. On October 2, Joshua Clayton was elected as the Federalist Party candidate for first governor. He took up this office on January 1, 1793. Cockfighting, shooting competitions, and horse racing were banned in Delaware during his tenure. At that time a law was passed granting state aid to the poor. The link between the right to vote and property has been removed. At the end of his three-year term, Clayton was not allowed to run directly for a second re-election under the new state constitution. Therefore, he had to resign on January 19, 1796 from his office.

US Congress and End of Life

In 1798, Joshua Clayton was named to replace resigned Class 2 Senator John M. Vining . Clayton took up his new office on January 19, 1798 and held it until his death on August 11 of the same year. His seat in the US Congress then went to William H. Wells . Joshua Clayton was married to Rachel McCleary, with whom he had three children. His son Thomas Clayton (1777-1854) was also a politician and also served in the US Senate from 1824 to 1847, with one interruption. His nephew John Middleton Clayton (1796-1856) was several times Senator between 1829 and 1856 and US Secretary of State from 1849 to 1850 .

literature

  • Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 1, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Clayton, Joshua
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician
DATE OF BIRTH July 20, 1744
PLACE OF BIRTH Wyoming , Delaware
DATE OF DEATH August 11, 1798
Place of death Philadelphia , Pennsylvania