Thomas Collins (politician, 1732)

Thomas Collins (* 1732 in Smyrna , Delaware Colony ; † March 29, 1789 in Smyrna , Delaware ) was a British-American lawyer who served as President of the Delaware General Assembly from 1786 until his death . Under his leadership, Delaware became the first state to ratify the United States Constitution in 1787 .

Early years

Thomas Collins enjoyed a private education, which also included a legal education. But Collins never worked as a lawyer. In 1760 he bought a property which he called "Sheerness". In the following years he acquired more lands. From all of this one can conclude that his unknown parents must have been very wealthy and left him a rich legacy.

Political rise

Between 1764 and 1767, Collins was Kent County's Sheriff . From 1767 to 1775 he was intermittently a member of the colonial parliament of the lower counties on the Delaware River . At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War he joined the American cause and became a member of the Constituent Congress of Delaware. At the same time he joined the militia, in which he should rise to the rank of brigadier general . However, he did not experience any important military missions because he commanded the protection force in Delaware and was entrusted with the defense of the areas on the lower reaches of the Delaware River. Between 1778 and 1782 he was a member of the Delaware Senate and temporarily its president. He then became a judge at an appeals court. He held this office until 1786.

President (Governor) of Delaware

In October 1786 Thomas Collins was elected by the legislature as the new president of his state. Until 1793 the head of government of the state of Delaware carried the title "President", from 1793 the designation " Governor " was introduced. Thomas Collins served his state as head of government between 1786 and 1789. During his tenure, Delaware became the first state in the United States to ratify the new constitution. In early 1789, Collins's health deteriorated dramatically. He was bedridden and could not attend the inauguration of George Washington as the first US president as planned . Thomas Collins died on March 29, 1789. He was the first Delaware head of government to die in office. His term was ended by Jehu Davis . Thomas Collins had four children with his wife Sarah. Through his sister Elizabeth he was the brother-in-law of John Cook , who was head of government in Delaware for a short time in 1783.

Web links

• The governors of Delaware (English)
• Biography of Russ Pickett (English)
• Thomas Collins in the database of Find a Grave (English)