1808 United States Senate election in Massachusetts explained

Election Name:1808 United States Senate election in Massachusetts
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1803 United States Senate election in Massachusetts
Previous Year:1803
Next Election:1808 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts
Next Year:1808 (special)
Election Date:June 2, 1808
Votes For Election:462 Members of the Massachusetts General Court
Needed Votes:232
Image1:JamesLloyd (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:James Lloyd
Party1:Federalist Party (United States)
Electoral Vote1:248
Percentage1:53.68%
Nominee2:John Quincy Adams
Party2:Federalist Party (United States)
Electoral Vote2:213
Percentage2:46.10%
Senator
Before Election:John Quincy Adams
Before Party:Federalist Party (United States)
After Election:James Lloyd
After Party:Federalist Party (United States)

The 1808 United States Senate election in Massachusetts was held on June 2, 1808.

This unusually early election was called after incumbent Federalist John Quincy Adams broke with his party over the Embargo Act of 1807. The Federalist legislature elected State Senator James Lloyd, Jr. to the term beginning in March 1809.

Background

John Quincy Adams, son of former Federalist president John Adams, was elected senator by the Massachusetts legislature as a Federalist in 1803. His six-year term was scheduled to expire in March 1809.

However, Adams supported President Thomas Jefferson's foreign policy during the Napoleonic Wars, including the Louisiana Purchase and Embargo Act of 1807. Adams was the lone Federalist in Congress to vote for the Non-importation Act of 1806.[1] In response to Adams's continued distance from Federalist orthodoxy, the Federalist legislature in Massachusetts held this early election for the United States Senate term beginning in March 1809.

Aftermath

Adams resigned immediately following his defeat, triggering a special election for the remainder of his term on June 9. Lloyd won the special election as well.

Adams soon formally joined the Democratic-Republicans and was appointed Minister to Russia by President James Madison. Adams was later Secretary of State in the Cabinet of James Monroe and was elected President of the United States in 1824.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Thompson. Robert R.. John Quincy Adams, Apostate: From "Outrageous Federalist" to "Republican Exile," 1801- 1809. Journal of the Early Republic. 1991. 11. 2. 161–183. 3123239. 10.2307/3123239.