23rd Delaware General Assembly

The 23rd 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 of October and terms began on the first Tuesday in January. The Assembly met in the state capital, Dover, convening January 1, 1799, two weeks before the beginning of the first year of the administration of Governor Richard Bassett.

Governor Richard Bassett
23rd General Assembly
In office January 1, 1799 – January 7, 1800
Preceded by	22nd Assembly
Succeeded by	24th Assembly

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 Federalist majority.

Leadership

Senate

• Isaac Davis, Kent County

House of Representatives

• Stephen Lewis, Kent County

Members

Senate

Senators were elected by the public for a three-year term, one third posted each year.

New Castle County Archibald Alexander Isaac Grantham John James

Kent County George Cummins Isaac Davis James Sykes

Sussex County unknown Nathaniel Hayes David Owens

House of Representative

Representatives were elected by the public for a one-year term.

New Castle County John Clark Richard C. Dale George Gillespie Thomas Kean Caesar Augustus Rodney Joseph Tatnall Nicholas Van Dyke, Jr.

Kent County Joseph Barker William Collins, Jr. Manlove Emerson Stephen Lewis William Sorden John Vining William Warner

Sussex County Isaac Beauchamp Joshua Burton Samuel Paynter, Jr. Thomas Robertson Thomas Sorden Stephen Styer William H. Wells

References

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

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]