Nathaniel Mitchell

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Nathaniel Mitchell (* 1753 in Laurel , Delaware Colony ; † February 21, 1814 ibid) was an American politician and governor of the state of Delaware from 1805 to 1808 . He was also a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1787 to 1788 .

Early years and political advancement

Mitchells initially worked in agriculture before joining the Continental Army at the beginning of the War of Independence . There he rose to major in the course of the war. He was involved in several battles. Among other things, he was with George Washington in Valley Forge . In 1781 he was taken prisoner by the British. He was released after the decisive battle of Yorktown .

Between 1787 and 1788 he was a member of the Continental Congress and from 1788 to 1805 he was a notary public in Sussex County . In 1801, he ran for governor of Delaware as a candidate for his Federalist Party . He lost to David Hall by only 18 votes . In the next gubernatorial elections on October 2, 1804, he then achieved the hoped-for election victory against the later governor Joseph Haslet .

Delaware Governor

Nathaniel Mitchell began his three-year term on January 15, 1805. The most important event in his reign was the fulfillment of a quota of 814 fully armed and equipped soldiers who had to be made available to a federal militia. Achieving this goal required a great deal of time and administration. Due to a constitutional clause, Mitchell was not allowed to run again in 1807. Therefore, he resigned on January 19, 1808 from his office.

Another résumé

Mitchell was then a member of the House of Representatives from Delaware between 1808 and 1810 and a member of the State Senate from 1810 to 1812 . Governor Mitchell died on February 21, 1814. He was buried in his hometown of Laurel. He had seven children with his wife, Hannah Morris.

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 Mitchell, Nathaniel
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician
DATE OF BIRTH 1753
PLACE OF BIRTH Laurel , Delaware
DATE OF DEATH February 21, 1814
Place of death Laurel , Delaware