List of members of the United States House of Representatives in the 7th Congress by seniority

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This is a complete list of members of the United States House of Representatives during the 7th 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 7th Congress (March 4, 1801 – March 3, 1803). 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 7th 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. A speakership ballot was held on December 7, 1801, and Nathaniel Macon (DR-NC) was elected. [3]

Standing committees

The House created its first standing committee, on April 13, 1789. There were four standing committees, listed in the rules initially used by the 7th Congress. In addition there was a Ways and Means Committee. The Ways and Means Committee was not formally added to the main list of standing committees, until the rules were revised on January 7, 1802. The modern Ways and Means Committee dates its foundation as a standing committee to 1802, but considers the pre-1802 panel to be its forerunner.

Committees, in this period, were appointed for a session at a time and not necessarily for every one in a Congress. The Speaker appointed the members.

This list refers to the standing committees of the House in the 7th 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 December 7, 1801 – May 3, 1802 (148 days), and the second session was December 6, 1802 – March 3, 1803 (88 days).

No.CommitteeFromMbrsAppointedChairman
1 Claims 17947December 8, 1801 – May 3, 1802John C. Smith (F-CT)
December 8, 1802 – March 3, 1803
2 Commerce and Manufactures 17957December 8, 1801 – May 3, 1802*Samuel Smith (DR-MD)
December 8, 1802 – March 3, 1803
3 Elections 17897December 8, 1801 – May 3, 1802John Milledge (DR-GA)
December 8, 1802 – March 3, 1803John Bacon (DR-MA)
4 Revisal and Unfinished Business 17953December 8, 1801 – May 3, 1802John Davenport (F-CT)
December 8, 1802 – March 3, 1803
5 Ways and Means [1794] 18029December 8, 1801 – May 3, 1802John Randolph (DR-VA)
7December 14, 1802 – March 3, 1803

List of representatives by seniority

A numerical rank is assigned to each of the 106 members initially elected to the 7th 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.

Twelve Representatives-elect were not sworn in, as one died and eleven resigned. The list below includes the Representatives-elect (with name in italics), with the seniority they would have held if they 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
Seven consecutive terms
1 George Thatcher F MA-14 March 4, 1789(P) 1789–95. Resigned as Representative-elect. [5]
Six consecutive terms
2 Andrew Gregg DR PA-9 March 4, 1791(A) 1791-95
3 William B. Grove F NC-7 (P) 1791–95. Last term while serving as a member of the House.
4 Nathaniel Macon DR NC-5 (A) 1791–95. Speaker of the House.
Six non-consecutive terms
5 William B. Giles DR VA-9 March 4, 1801Previously served (A) December 7, 1790–95 and (DR) 1795-October 2, 1798, while as a member of the House. Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801. Last term while serving as a member of the House.
Five consecutive terms
6 Anthony New DR VA-16 March 4, 1793(A) 1793–95. Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801.
7 Samuel Smith DR MD-5 (A) 1793-95 while as a member of the House. Elected to this Congress: April 6, 1801. Chairman:
Commerce and Manufactures. Last term while serving as a member of the House until 14th Congress.
8 Philip Van Cortlandt DR NY-3 (A) 1793-95
9 Peleg Wadsworth F MA-13 (P) 1793-95
Five non-consecutive terms
10 Thomas Sumter DR SC-4 March 4, 1797Previously served (A) 1789-93 while as a member of the House. Resigned, to become US Senator:
December 15, 1801.
11 Abiel Foster F NH-al March 4, 1795Previously served (P) June 22, 1789-91 while as a member of the House. Last term while serving as a member of the House.
12 Daniel Hiester DR MD-4 March 4, 1801Previously served (PA-A) 1789-95 and (PA-DR) 1795-July 1, 1796, while as a member of the House. Elected to this Congress: April 6, 1801.
Four consecutive terms
13 Samuel J. Cabell DR VA-14 March 4, 1795Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801. Last term while serving as a member of the House.
14 Albert Gallatin DR PA-12 Resigned as Representative-elect, to become Secretary of the
Treasury [6]
15 Roger Griswold F CT-al
16 Joseph B. Varnum DR MA-9
17 Samuel W. Dana F CT-al January 3, 1797
Four non-consecutive terms
18 Thomas Claiborne DR VA-8 March 4, 1801Previously served (A) 1793-95 and (DR) 1795-99 while as a member of the House. Elected to this
Congress: April 22, 1801.
19 Peter Muhlenberg DR PA-4 March 4, 1799Previously served (A) 1789-91 and 1793-95 while as a member of the House.. Resigned, as
Representative-elect, to become a US Senator. [7]
20 Israel Smith DR VT-1 March 4, 1801Previously served (A) October 17, 1791–95 and (DR) 1795-97 while as a member of the House.
Last term while serving as a member of the House.
Three consecutive terms
21 James A. Bayard F DE-al March 4, 1797Last term while serving as a member of the House. (elected to 9th Congress but did not serve)
22 Matthew Clay DR VA-6 Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801
23 Thomas T. Davis DR KY-1 Elected to this Congress: August 3, 1801. Last term while serving as a member of the House.
24 John Dawson DR VA-15 Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801
25 John Dennis F MD-8 Elected to this Congress: April 6, 1801
26 Lucas C. Elmendorf DR NY-4 Last term while serving as a member of the House.
27 John Fowler DR KY-2 Elected to this Congress: August 3, 1801
28 John A. Hanna DR PA-6
29 David Holmes DR VA-2 Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801
30 John Rutledge, Jr. F SC-2 Last term while serving as a member of the House.
31 William Shepard F MA-2
32 Richard Stanford DR NC-4
33 Abram Trigg DR VA-4 Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801
34 John J. Trigg DR VA-5
35 Robert Williams DR NC-3 Last term while serving as a member of the House.
36 Lewis R. Morris F VT-2 May 22, 1797
37 William Edmond F CT-al November 13, 1797Resigned as Representative-elect: c. August 1801 [8]
38 William Claiborne DR TN-al November 23, 1797Elected to this Congress: August 3–4, 1801. Resigned as
Representative-elect: September 22, 1801. [9]
39 Joseph Hiester DR PA-5 December 1, 1798
40 Robert Brown DR PA-4 December 4, 1798
Three non-consecutive terms
41 Richard Brent DR VA-17 March 4, 1801Previously (DR) 1795-99 while as a member of the House. Elected to this Congress:
April 22, 1801. Last term while serving as a member of the House.
42 John Clopton DR VA-13 Previously served (DR) 1795-99 while as a member of the House. Elected to this Congress:
April 22, 1801.
43 George Jackson DR VA-3 March 4, 1799Previously served (DR) 1795-97 while as a member of the House. Elected to this Congress:
April 22, 1801. Last term while serving as a member of the House.
44 John Smilie DR PA-11 Previously served (A) 1793-95 while as a member of the House.
45 Richard Sprigg, Jr. DR MD-2 March 4, 1801Previously served (DR) May 5, 1796–99. Elected to this Congress:
April 6, 1801. Resigned on February 11, 1802, while still serving as a member of the House.
Two consecutive terms
46 Willis Alston DR NC-9 March 4, 1799
47 John Bird F NY-6 Resigned as Representative-elect: July 25, 1801 [10]
48 Phanuel Bishop DR MA-7
49 John Condit DR NJ-al Last term while as a member of the House until 16th Congress.
50 John Davenport F CT-al Chairman: Revisal and Unfinished Business
51 Edwin Gray DR VA-10 Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801
52 Archibald Henderson F NC-2 Last term while serving as a member of the House.
53 William H. Hill F NC-6
54 Benjamin Huger F SC-3
55 James Jones F GA-al Died as Representative-elect: January 11, 1801 [11]
56 Silas Lee F MA-12 Resigned as Representative-elect: August 20, 1801 [12]
57 Michael Leib DR PA-2
58 Joseph H. Nicholson DR MD-7 Elected to this Congress: April 6, 1801
59 John Randolph DR VA-7 Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801. Chairman: Ways and Means.
60 David Stone DR NC-8 Resigned, as Representative-elect, to become a US Senator [13]
61 Benjamin Taliaferro DR GA-al (F) 1799–1801. Resigned in February 1802 while still serving as a member of the House.
62 Lemuel Williams F MA-5
63 Henry Woods F PA-10 Last term while serving as a member of the House.
64 Elizur Goodrich F CT-al September 16, 1799Special election. Resigned as Representative-elect: March 3, 1801. [14]
65 John Smith DR NY-1 February 6, 1800
66 Nathan Read F MA-10 November 25, 1800Last term while serving as a member of the House.
67 John C. Smith F CT-al November 17, 1800Chairman: Claims
68 Samuel Tenney F NH-al November 18, 1800
69 Levi Lincoln DR MA-4 December 15, 1800Resigned, as Representative-elect, to become Attorney General:
March 5, 1801 [15]
70 John Stewart DR PA-8 January 15, 1801
71 Ebenezer Mattoon F MA-3 February 2, 1801Last term while serving as a member of the House.
Two non-consecutive terms
72 James Holland DR NC-1 March 4, 1801Previously served (DR) 1795-97 while as a member of the House.
73 Thomas Tillinghast DR RI-al Previously served (F) November 13, 1797-99 while as a member of the House. Last term while serving as a member of the House.
One term
74 John Archer DR MD-6 March 4, 1801Elected to this Congress: April 6, 1801
75 John Bacon DR MA-1 Elected to this Congress: March 9, 1801. Chairman: Elections
(1802–03). Only term while serving as a member of the House.
76 Thomas Boude F PA-7 Only term while serving as a member of the House.
77 William Butler DR SC-5
78 John Campbell F MD-1 Elected to this Congress: April 6, 1801
79 Manasseh Cutler F MA-11
80 Ebenezer Elmer DR NJ-al
81 William Eustis DR MA-8
82 William Helms DR NJ-al
83 Joseph Hemphill F PA-3 Only term while serving as a member of the House until 16th Congress
84 William Jones DR PA-1 Only term while serving as a member of the House.
85 Thomas Lowndes F SC-1
86 Samuel L. Mitchill DR NY-2
87 Thomas Moore DR SC-6
88 Thomas Morris F NY-10 Only term while serving as a member of the House.
89 James Mott DR NJ-al
90 Thomas Newton, Jr. DR VA-11 Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801
91 Joseph Peirce F NH-al Resigned in 1802 while still serving as a member of the House.
92 Elias Perkins F CT-al Only term while serving as a member of the House.
93 Thomas Plater F MD-3 Elected to this Congress: April 6, 1801
94 John Smith DR VA-1 Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801
95 Josiah Smith DR MA-6 Elected to this Congress: March 9, 1801. Only term while serving as a member of the House.
96 Henry Southard DR NJ-al
97 John Stanly F NC-10 Only term while as a member of the House until 11th Congress
98 Joseph Stanton Jr. DR RI-al Elected to this Congress: April 15, 1801
99 John Stratton F VA-12 Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801. Only term while serving as a member of the House.
100 John Taliaferro DR VA-19 Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801. Only term while serving as a member of the House until 12th Congress.
101 David Thomas DR NY-7
102 Thomas Tillotson DR NY-5 Resigned as Representative-elect: August 10, 1801 [16]
103 Philip R. Thompson DR VA-18 Elected to this Congress: April 22, 1801
104 George B. Upham F NH-al
105 Killian K. Van Rensselaer F NY-8
106 Benjamin Walker F NY-9 Only term while serving as a member of the House.
Members joining the House, after the start of the Congress
... John Milledge DR GA-al March 23, 1801Previously served (A) November 22, 1792–93 and (DR) 1795-99 while as a member of the House.
Special election. Chairman: Elections (1801–02).
Resigned to become Governor: November 9, 1802.
... Calvin Goddard F CT-al May 18, 1801Special election: April 9, 1801
... Richard Cutts DR MA-14 June 22, 1801Special election
... Charles Johnson DR NC-8 August 7, 1801Special election: August 6–7, 1801. Died on July 23, 1802, while still serving as a member of the House.
... Seth Hastings F MA-4 August 24, 1801Special election. Seated January 11, 1802.
... Benjamin Tallmadge F CT-al September 21, 1801Special election
... Theodorus Bailey DR NY-5 October 6, 1801Previously served (A) 1793-95 and (DR) 1795-97 and 1799-1801 while as a member of the House.
Special election: October 6–8, 1801. Last term while serving as a member of the House.
... John P. Van Ness DR NY-6 Special election: October 6–8, 1801. Seated December 7, 1801.
Seat declared forfeited: January 17, 1803.
... William Hoge DR PA-12 October 13, 1801Special election
... Isaac Van Horne DR PA-4
... William Dickson DR TN-al October 30, 1801Special election: October 29–30, 1801
... Walter Bowie DR MD-2 March 24, 1802Special election: March 2, 1802
... Samuel Hunt F NH-al December 6, 1802Special election: August 30, 1802
... David Meriwether DR GA-al Special election: April 5, 1802
... Samuel Thatcher F MA-12 Special election: July 29, 1802
... Thomas Wynns DR NC-8 December 7, 1802Special election: October 15, 1802
... Peter Early DR GA-al January 10, 1803Special election: December 15, 1802
... Richard Winn DR SC-4 January 24, 1803Previously served (A) 1793-95 and (DR) 1795–97. Special election: April 12–14, 1802.
Non voting members
a Paul Fearing F OH-al March 4, 1801Delegate for Northwest Territory (future OH).
Term ended on OH admission.
b Narsworthy Hunter - MS-al Delegate for Mississippi Territory. Died on March 11, 1802.
c Thomas M. Green, Jr. DR MS-al December 6, 1802Delegate for Mississippi Territory. Special election. Only term.

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 2011-09-06.
  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 7th Congress for the dates of appointment specified.
  5. ↑ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 22) and resignation (note 9 on page 25).
  6. ↑ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 22) and resignation (note 15 on page 25).
  7. ↑ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 22) and resignation (note 14 on page 25).
  8. ↑ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 22) and resignation (note 1 on page 25).
  9. ↑ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 23) and resignation (note 18 on page 25).
  10. ↑ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 22) and resignation (note 12 on page 25).
  11. ↑ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 22) and death (note 3 on page 25).
  12. ↑ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 22) and resignation (note 8 on page 25).
  13. ↑ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 22) and resignation (note 13 on page 25).
  14. ↑ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 22) and resignation (note 2 on page 25).
  15. ↑ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 22) and resignation (note 7 on page 25).
  16. ↑ United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997, election (page 22) and resignation (note 11 on page 25).

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