Jehu Davis

John "Jehu" Davis (born 1738 in Worcester County , Maryland Province , † May 11, 1802 in Milford , Delaware ) was an American politician and in 1789 President of the State of Delaware.

Early years

The exact date of birth of Jehu Davis is unknown. Before 1765 he moved to Laurel , Delaware, where he bought a farm near Milford. During the War of Independence he served in the local militia, and from 1777 he served as justice of the peace. He held this office until 1791.

Political career

Between 1776 and 1789 he was an intermittent member of the House of Representatives from Delaware . In 1789 he was speaker of the house. When the President ( Governor ) of Delaware, Thomas Collins , died in office in March 1789 and the position of President of the State Senate was vacant at that time , Davis had to take over this office according to the state constitution. He was President of his state from March 29, 1789 to June 2 of the same year. The title of governor was not introduced until 1793. Then Joshua Clayton, a newly elected president, took over the government of the state of Delaware. During his tenure, George Washington also passed through Delaware en route to his inauguration, which aroused great interest and enthusiasm among the population. After the end of his brief tenure, Davis served as an appeals judge until 1792. From 1792 until his death in 1802 he was again justice of the peace.

Private life

Jehu Davis was married twice. He had eight children with his first wife, Rhoda Laws. His second marriage to Sarah Douglas was childless. Jehu Davis's grave no longer exists because a road was built over it without moving the grave site.

Web links

• The governors of Delaware (English)
• Jehu Davis in the database of Find a Grave (English)