List of members of the United States House of Representatives in the 11th Congress by seniority

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This is a complete list of members of the United States House of Representatives during the 11th United States Congress listed by seniority. For the most part, representatives are ranked by the beginning of their terms in office. [1]

Contents

As an historical article, the districts and party affiliations listed reflect those during the 11th Congress (March 4, 1809 – March 3, 1811). Seats and party affiliations on similar lists for other Congresses will be different for certain members.

This article describes the criteria for seniority in the House of Representatives and sets out the list of members by seniority. It is prepared on the basis of the interpretation of seniority applied to the House of Representatives in the current congress. In the absence of information to the contrary, it is presumed that the twenty-first-century practice is identical to the seniority customs used during the 11th Congress. [2]

House seniority

Seniority in the House, for Congressmen with unbroken service, depends on the date on which the members first term began. That date is either the start of the Congress (4 March in odd numbered years, for the era up to and including the 73rd Congress starting in 1933) or the date of a special election during the Congress. Since many members start serving on the same day as others, ranking between them is based on alphabetical order by the last name of the congressman.

Congressmen, in early Congresses, were often elected after the legal start of the Congress. Such representatives are attributed with unbroken seniority, from the legal start of the congressional term, if they were the first person elected to a seat in a Congress. The date of the election is indicated in a note.

The seniority date is normally taken from the members entry in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, except where the date given is the legal start of the Congress and the actual election (for someone who was not the first person elected to the seat in that Congress) was later. The date of election is taken from United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997. In a few instances the latter work provides dates, for the start and end of terms, which correct those in the Biographical Directory.

The Biographical Directory normally uses the date of a special election, as the seniority date. However, mostly in early Congresses, the date of the member taking his seat can be the one given. The date of the special election is mentioned in a note to the list below, when that date is not used as the seniority date by the Biographical Directory.

Representatives who returned to the House, after having previously served, are credited with service equal to one less than the total number of terms they served. When a representative has served a prior term of less than two terms (i.e. prior term minus one equals less than one), he is ranked above all others whose service begins on the same day.

Leadership

In this Congress the only formal leader was the Speaker of the House. Two Speakership ballots were held on May 22, 1809 and Joseph B. Varnum (DR-MA) was re-elected for a second consecutive term. [3]

Candidate1st Ballot2nd Ballot
Joseph B. Varnum (DR-MA)6065
Nathaniel Macon (DR-NC)3645
Timothy Pitkin (F-CT)206
Charles Goldsborough (F-MD)11
Benjamin Howard (DR-KY)01
Roger Nelson (DR-MD)11
blank ballots20

The title Dean of the House (sometimes known, in the nineteenth century, as Father of the House) was held by the member with the longest continuous service. It was not a leadership position.

Standing committees

The House created its first standing committee, on April 13, 1789. There were nine standing committees, listed in the rules initially used by the 11th Congress.

Committees, in this period, were appointed for a session at a time by the Speaker.

This list refers to the standing committees of the House in the 11th Congress, the year of establishment as a standing committee, the number of members assigned to the committee and the dates of appointment in each session, the end of the session and its chairman. Chairmen, who were re-appointed after serving in the previous Congress, are indicated by an *. [4]

The first session was May 22, 1809-June 28, 1809 (38 days), the second session was November 27, 1809-May 1, 1810 (156 days) and the third session was December 3, 1810-March 3, 1811 (91 days).

No.CommitteeFromMbrsAppointedChairman
1 Accounts 18053May 23, 1809-June 28, 1809*Nicholas R. Moore (DR-MD)
November 28, 1809-May 1, 1810William Milnor (F-PA)
December 6, 1810-March 3, 1811Nicholas R. Moore (DR-MD)
2 Claims 17947May 23, 1809-June 28, 1809Richard M. Johnson (DR-KY)
November 28, 1809-May 1, 1810
December 6, 1810-March 3, 1811Erastus Root (DR-NY)
3 Commerce and Manufactures 17957May 23, 1809-June 28, 1809*Thomas Newton, Jr. (DR-VA)
November 28, 1809-May 1, 1810
December 6, 1810-March 3, 1811
4 District of Columbia 18087May 23, 1809-June 28, 1809John Love (DR-VA)
November 28, 1809-May 1, 1810
December 6, 1810-March 3, 1811Archibald Van Horne (DR-MD)
5 Elections 17897May 23, 1809-June 28, 1809*William Findley (DR-PA)
November 28, 1809-May 1, 1810
December 6, 1810-March 3, 1811
6 Post Office and Post Roads 180817May 23, 1809-June 28, 1809*John Rhea (DR-TN)
16November 28, 1809-May 1, 1810
December 6, 1810-March 3, 1811
7 Public Lands 18057May 23, 1809-June 28, 1809*Jeremiah Morrow (DR-OH)
November 28, 1809-May 1, 1810
December 6, 1810-March 3, 1811
8 Revisal and Unfinished Business 17953May 23, 1809-June 28, 1809Henry Southard (DR-NJ)
November 28, 1809-May 1, 1810
December 6, 1810-March 3, 1811
9 Ways and Means 18027May 23, 1809-June 28, 1809John W. Eppes (DR-VA)
November 28, 1809-May 1, 1810
December 6, 1810-March 3, 1811

List of representatives by seniority

A numerical rank is assigned to each of the 142 members initially elected to the 11th Congress. Other members, who were not the first person elected to a seat but who joined the House during the Congress, are not assigned a number.

One Representative-elect was not sworn in, as he did not qualify before he resigned. The list below includes the Representative-elect (with name in italics), with the seniority he would have held if he had been sworn in.

Party designations used in this article are DR for Democratic-Republican members and F for Federalist representatives. Designations used for service in the first three congresses are (A) for Anti-Administration members and (P) for Pro-Administration representatives.

U.S. House seniority
RankRepresentativePartyDistrictSeniority dateNotes
Ten consecutive terms
1 Nathaniel Macon DR NC-6 March 4, 1791(A) Previously served 1791-95 while as a member of the House. Dean of the House.
Eight consecutive terms
2 Joseph B. Varnum DR MA-4 March 4, 1795 Speaker of the House
3 Samuel W. Dana F CT-al January 3, 1797Resigned to become US Senator: May 10, 1810
Eight non-consecutive terms
4 William Findley DR PA-8 March 4, 1803Previously served (A) 1791-95 and (DR) 1795-99 while as a member of the House. Chairman: Elections.
Seven consecutive terms
5 Matthew Clay DR VA-14 March 4, 1797Elected to this Congress: April 1809
6 John Dawson DR VA-10
7 Richard Stanford DR NC-8
8 Robert Brown DR PA-2 December 4, 1798
Seven non-consecutive terms
9 John Clopton DR VA-22 March 4, 1801Previously served (DR) 1795-99 while as a member in the House. Elected to this Congress: April 1809.
10 John Smilie DR PA-9 March 4, 1799Previously served (A) 1793-95 while as a member of the House.
11 Richard Winn DR SC-5 January 24, 1803Previously served (A) 1793-95 and (DR) 1795-97 while as a member of the House.
Six consecutive terms
12 Willis Alston DR NC-2 March 4, 1799
13 John Davenport F CT-al
14 Edwin Gray DR VA-19 Elected to this Congress: April 1809
15 John Randolph DR VA-15
Six non-consecutive terms
16 David Bard DR PA-4 March 4, 1803Previously served (DR) 1795-99 while as a member of the House.
17 James Holland DR NC-11 March 4, 1801Previously served (DR) 1795-97 while as a member of the House. Last term while serving as a member of the House.
18 Matthew Lyon DR KY-1 March 4, 1803Previously served (DR-VT) 1797-1801 while as a member of the House. Last term while serving as a member of the House.
Five consecutive terms
19 William Butler DR SC-2 March 4, 1801
20 John Campbell F MD-1 Last term while serving as a member of the House.
21 William Helms DR NJ-al
22 Thomas Moore DR SC-7
23 Thomas Newton, Jr. DR VA-20 Elected to this Congress: April 1809. Chairman: Commerce and Manufactures.
24 John Smith DR VA-3 Elected to this Congress: April 1809
25 Henry Southard DR NJ-al Chairman: Revisal and Unfinished Business. Last term while serving as a member of the House until 14th Congress.
26 Killian K. Van Rensselaer F NY-7 Last term while serving as a member of the House.
27 Richard Cutts DR MA-14 June 22, 1801
28 Benjamin Tallmadge F CT-al September 21, 1801
Five non-consecutive terms
29 Walter Jones DR VA-8 March 4, 1803Previously served (DR) 1797–99. Elected to this Congress: April 1809. Last term while serving as a member of the House.
Four consecutive terms
30 Martin Chittenden F VT-4 March 4, 1803
31 John W. Eppes DR VA-16 Elected to this Congress: April 1809. Chairman: Ways and Means. Last term while still serving as a member of the House until 13th Congress.
32 Peterson Goodwyn DR VA-18 Elected to this Congress: April 1809
33 John G. Jackson DR VA-1 Elected to this Congress: April 1809. Resigned on September 28, 1810 while still serving as a member of the House. Last term while serving as a member of the House until 13th Congress.
34 Joseph Lewis, Jr. F VA-7 Elected to this Congress: April 1809
35 Nicholas R. Moore DR MD-5 Chairman: Accounts (1809 and 1810–11). Last term while serving as a member of the House until 13th Congress.
36 Jeremiah Morrow DR OH-al Chairman: Public Lands
37 John Rea DR PA-7 Last term while serving as a member of the House until 13th Congress
38 John Rhea DR TN-1 Elected to this Congress: May 4–5, 1809. Washington District. Chairman: Post Office and Post Roads.
39 Ebenezer Seaver DR MA-13
40 William Stedman F MA-11 Resigned on July 16, 1810 while still serving as a member of the House.
41 Samuel Taggart F MA-6
42 Roger Nelson DR MD-4 November 6, 1804Resigned on May 14, 1810 while still serving as a member of the House.
Three consecutive terms
43 Burwell Bassett DR VA-12 March 4, 1805Elected to this Congress: April 1809
44 Orchard Cook DR MA-16 Last term while serving as a member of the House.
45 William Ely F MA-5
46 Charles Goldsborough F MD-8
47 Robert Marion DR SC-1 Resigned on December 4, 1810 while still serving as a member of the House.
48 Jonathan O. Moseley F CT-al
49 Gurdon S. Mumford DR NY-2 Last term while still serving as a member of the House.
50 Josiah Quincy F MA-1
51 Thomas Kenan DR NC-5 August 8, 1805Last term while still serving as a member of the House.
52 Timothy Pitkin F CT-al September 16, 1805
53 Lewis B. Sturges F CT-al
54 Samuel Smith DR PA-11 November 7, 1805Last term
55 Robert Whitehill DR PA-4
56 Dennis Smelt DR GA-al September 1, 1806Last term while still serving as a member of the House.
57 William A. Burwell DR VA-13 December 1, 1806Elected to this Congress: April 1809
58 John Porter DR PA-1 December 8, 1806Last term while still serving as a member of the House.
59 William W. Bibb DR GA-al January 26, 1807
Three non-consecutive terms
60 Thomas Sammons DR NY-9 March 4, 1809Previously served (DR) 1803-07
61 John Thompson DR NY-8 March 4, 1807Previously served (DR) 1799-1801 while as a member of the House. Last term while still serving as a member of the House.
62 Adam Boyd DR NJ-al March 8, 1808Previously served (DR) 1803-05 while as a member of the House.
Two consecutive terms
63 Lemuel J. Alston DR SC-8 March 4, 1807Last term while serving as a member of the House.
64 Epaphroditus Champion F CT-al
65 Howell Cobb DR GA-al
66 Joseph Desha DR KY-6
67 Meshack Franklin DR NC-12
68 Barent Gardenier F NY-5 Last term while serving as a member of the House.
69 Benjamin Howard DR KY-5 Resigned on April 10, 1810 while serving in the House.
70 Robert Jenkins F PA-3 Last term while serving as a member of the House.
71 Richard M. Johnson DR KY-4 Chairman: Claims (1809–10)
72 Philip B. Key F MD-3
73 Edward S. Livermore F MA-3 Last term while serving as a member of the House.
74 John Love DR VA-9 Elected to this Congress: April 1809. Chairman: District of Columbia (1809–10). Last term while serving as a member of the House.
75 William Milnor F PA-2 Chairman: Accounts (1809–10). Last term while serving as a member of the House until 14th Congress.
76 John Montgomery DR MD-6
77 Thomas Newbold DR NJ-al
78 Wilson C. Nicholas DR VA-21 Elected to this Congress: April 1809. Resigned on November 27, 1809 while still serving as a member of the House.
79 Matthias Richards DR PA-3 Last term while still serving as a member of the House.
80 Lemuel Sawyer DR NC-1
81 John Taylor DR SC-4 Resigned, to become US Senator: December 30, 1810
82 George M. Troup DR GA-al
83 Jabez Upham F MA-10 Resigned in 1810 while still serving as a member of the House.
84 Archibald Van Horne DR MD-2 Chairman: District of Columbia (1810–11). Last term while serving as a member of the House.
85 Joseph Calhoun DR SC-6 June 2, 1807Last term while still serving as a member of the House.
86 Ezekiel Bacon DR MA-12 September 16, 1807
87 Nicholas Van Dyke F DE-al October 6, 1807Last term while serving as a member of the House.
88 Samuel Shaw DR VT-1 September 6, 1808
89 Thomas Gholson, Jr. DR VA-17 November 7, 1808
90 Richard Jackson, Jr. F RI-al November 11, 1808
91 Benjamin Say DR PA-1 November 16, 1808Resigned in June 1809 while still serving as a member of the House.
Two non-consecutive terms
92 William Chamberlain F VT-3 March 4, 1809Previously served (F) 1803-05 while as a member of the House. Last term while serving as a member of the House.
93 William Kennedy DR NC-3 Previously served (DR) 1803-05 while as a member of the House. Last term while serving as a member of the House until seated in 12th Congress.
94 Erastus Root DR NY-12 Previously served (DR) 1803-05 while as a member of the House. Chairman: Claims (1810–11). Last term while serving as a member of the House until 14th Congress.
95 John Stanly F NC-4 Previously served (F) 1801-03 while as a member of the House. Last term while serving as a member of the House.
96 James Stephenson F VA-2 Previously served 1803–05. Elected to this Congress: April 1809. Last term while serving as a member of the House until 17th Congress.
97 Uri Tracy DR NY-13 Previously served (DR) 1805-07 while serving as a member of the House.
98 Elisha R. Potter F RI-al Previously served (F) November 15, 1796–97 while as a member of the House.
One term
99 William Anderson DR PA-1 March 4, 1809
100 William Baylies F MA-7 Unseated, after election contest: June 28, 1809. Only term while serving as a member of the House until 13th Congress.
101 Daniel Blaisdell F NH-al Only term while serving as a member of the House.
102 James Breckinridge F VA-5 Elected to this Congress: April 1809
103 John Brown DR MD-7 Resigned while still serving as a member of the House: 1810
104 John C. Chamberlain F NH-al Only term while serving as a member of the House.
105 James Cochran DR NC-9
106 James Cox DR NJ-al Died while still serving as a member of the House: September 12, 1810
107 William Crawford DR PA-1
108 Henry Crist DR KY-3 Only term while serving as a member of the House.
109 William Denning DR NY-2 Resigned, as Representative-elect: c. February 1810 [5]
110 James Emott F NY-4
111 Jonathan Fisk DR NY-3 Only term while still serving as a member of the House until 13th Congress.
112 Barzillai Gannett DR MA-17
113 Gideon Gardner DR MA-8 Only term while still serving as a member of the House.
114 Thomas R. Gold F NY-11
115 William Hale F NH-al Only term while still serving as a member of the House until 13th Congress.
116 Nathaniel A. Haven F NH-al Only term while still serving as a member of the House.
117 Daniel Hiester DR PA-3
118 Jonathan H. Hubbard F VT-2
119 Jacob Hufty DR NJ-al
120 Herman Knickerbocker F NY-6 Only term while still serving as a member of the House.
121 Robert L. Livingston F NY-6
122 Aaron Lyle DR PA-10
123 Vincent Mathews F NY-14 Only term while still serving as a member of the House.
124 Archibald McBryde F NC-7
125 Samuel McKee DR KY-2
126 Alexander McKim DR MD-5
127 Pleasant M. Miller DR TN-3 Elected to this Congress: May 4–5, 1809. Hamilton District. Only term while still serving as a member of the House.
128 John Nicholson DR NY-10 Only term while still serving as a member of the House.
129 Joseph Pearson F NC-10
130 Benjamin Pickman, Jr. F MA-2 Only term while still serving as a member of the House.
131 Peter B. Porter DR NY-15
132 John Roane DR VA-11 Elected to this Congress: April 1809
133 John Ross DR PA-2 Only term while still serving as a member of the House until 14th Congress.
134 Ebenezer Sage DR NY-1
135 Daniel Sheffey F VA-6 Elected to this Congress: April 1809
136 George Smith DR PA-5
137 Jacob Swoope F VA-4 Elected to this Congress: April 1809. Only term while still serving as a member of the House.
138 Robert Weakley DR TN-2 Elected to this Congress: May 4–5, 1809. Mero District. Only term while still serving as a member of the House.
139 Laban Wheaton F MA-9
140 Ezekiel Whitman F MA-15 Only term while still serving as a member of the House until 15th Congress.
141 James Wilson F NH-al Only term while still serving as a member of the House.
142 Robert Witherspoon DR SC-3
Members joining the House, after the start of the Congress [6]
... Charles Turner, Jr. DR MA-7 June 28, 1809Seated after election contest
... Adam Seybert DR PA-1 October 10, 1809Special election
... David S. Garland DR VA-21 January 17, 1810Special election: December 1809. Only term while serving as a member of the House.
... William T. Barry DR KY-5 August 8, 1810Special election: August 6, 1810. Only term while serving as a member of the House.
... Joseph Allen F MA-10 October 8, 1810Special election. Only term while serving as a member of the House.
... Abijah Bigelow F MA-11 Special election
... Ebenezer Huntington F CT-al October 11, 1810Special election: September 17, 1810. Only term while serving as a member of the House until 15th Congress.
... Samuel Ringgold DR MD-4 October 15, 1810Special election: October 1, 1810
... John A. Scudder DR NJ-al October 31, 1810Special election: October 30–31, 1810. Only term while serving as a member of the House.
... Robert Wright DR MD-7 November 29, 1810Special election: November 15, 1810
... Samuel L. Mitchill DR NY-2 December 4, 1810Previously served (DR) 1801-November 22, 1804. Special election: April 24–26, 1810.
... William McKinley DR VA-1 December 21, 1810Special election: November 1810. Only term while serving as a member of the House.
... Langdon Cheves DR SC-1 December 31, 1810Special election
Non voting members
a George Poindexter - MS-al March 4, 1807Delegate from Mississippi Territory
b Julien De L. Poydras - OL-al March 4, 1809Delegate from Orleans Territory. Only term while serving in the House.
c Jonathan Jennings - IN-al November 27, 1809Delegate from Indiana Territory

See also

References

  1. ↑ Delegates are non-voting members and representatives are voting members of the United States House of Representatives.
  2. ↑ "112th Congress official House seniority list" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2011-10-16.
  3. ↑ Annals of Congress, for the date of election
  4. ↑ Based on Rule X Organisation of Committees, in the House Rules and Manual for the 112th Congress. For membership and chairmen, see the Journal of the House of Representatives for the 11th Congress for the dates of appointment specified.
  5. ↑ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, for election (page 40) and resignation (note 14 on page 43)
  6. ↑ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, for special elections to the 11th Congress (pages 41-42)

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