72nd Delaware General Assembly explained

Body:	Delaware General Assembly
Before:	71st
After:	73rd

The 72nd Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began on the first Tuesday in January. It met in Dover, Delaware, convening January 6, 1863, two weeks before the beginning of the first year of the administration of Governor William Cannon.

The apportionment of seats was permanently assigned to three senators and seven representatives for each of the three counties. Population of the county did not effect the number of delegates. Both chambers had a Democratic majority.

Leadership

Senate

• John R. Tatum, New Castle County

House of Representatives

• John Sorden, Sussex County

Members

Senate

Senators were elected by the public for a four-year term, some elected each two year.

New Castle County John P. Belville John R. Tatum John F. Williamson

Kent County Thomas Cahall John Green Gove Saulsbury

Sussex County Henry Hickman William Hitch Hicks D. Hooper

House of Representatives

Representatives were elected by the public for a term, every two years.

New Castle County Solomon M. Curtis John A. Duncan David W. Gemmill John Hayes Levi W. Lattomus Merritt H. Paxson John Whitby

Kent County John H. Bewley Benjamin S. Goote Robert Raughley John Slay William B. Stubbs Curtis S. Watson James Williams

Sussex County Major W. Allen Isaac H. Bailey Luther W. Fisher George W. Horsey William A. Scribner John Sorden William D. Waples

References

• Book: Martin, Roger A. . Memoirs of the Senate . Roger A. Martin . Newark, Delaware . 1995 .

Places with more information

• Delaware Historical Society

website; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; [phone]

• University of Delaware

Library website; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; [phone]