George R. Riddle

George Read Riddle (* 1817 in New Castle , Delaware ; † March 29, 1867 in Washington DC ) was an American politician ( Democratic Party ) who represented the state of Delaware in both chambers of the US Congress .

After attending school, George Riddle continued his education with a degree in civil engineering at Delaware College , later the University of Delaware . He also studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1848, after which he opened a law firm in Wilmington . His engineering training was the decisive factor in his being appointed to a commission to remeasure the Mason-Dixon line in 1849 . He was also busy building railroad tracks and canals. From 1849 to 1850, Riddle also served as Assistant Attorney General of the United States.

After he first ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives in 1844 and lost to the Whig John W. Houston , Riddle ran again in 1850, this time with a full 129 votes ahead of George B. Rodney . Two years later he was confirmed in office before losing to Elisha D. Cullen of the American Party in 1854 .

During the Civil War , Riddle served in a Wilmington Home Guard regiment . One consequence of the war was that the US senators were urged to swear allegiance to the Union. Delaware Senator James A. Bayard refused to take the oath and resigned from Congress, whereupon George Riddle was elected his successor on February 2, 1864. However, he died in Washington before the end of his term in March 1867; James Bayard has now been appointed as his successor.

Web links

George R. Riddle in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)

personal data
SURNAME	Riddle, George R.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Riddle, George Read (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician (Democratic Party)
DATE OF BIRTH	1817
PLACE OF BIRTH	New Castle , Delaware
DATE OF DEATH	March 29, 1867
Place of death	Washington, DC