Mark W. Delahay
Encyclopedia
Mark W. Delahay was a United States federal judge
, and an early supporter of the Republican Party
. A friend of Abraham Lincoln
, Delahay was appointed by Lincoln to the federal bench, but he resigned a decade later under threat of impeachment
, brought about by allegations of alcoholism
.
, Delahay entered private practice in Illinois
sometime before 1853. He was an editor for the Virginia Observer, a newspaper of Virginia, Illinois
from 1848 to 1849. In 1853, he relocated his practice to Mobile, Alabama
, and in 1855 moved again to practice in Leavenworth, Kansas
. In 1857, he became the owner and editor of a Kansas newspaper, The Territorial Register. He was a chief clerk in the Kansas Territorial House of Representatives from 1860 to 1861, and then a surveyor
general of Kansas and Nebraska from 1861 to 1863.
Delahey had a personal friendship with Abraham Lincoln originating with their mutual cause in establishing the Republican Party. In 1859, Delahay sought the Republican nomination for a United States Senate seat for Kansas.
from President Abraham Lincoln
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Kansas
vacated by Archibald Williams. He was formally nominated to the seat on December 14, 1863, but his confirmation by the United States Senate
did not come until March 15, 1864. He received his commission on the day of his confirmation.
Delahey was impeached by the United States House of Representatives
on February 28, 1873 for "intoxication off the bench as well as on the bench", but he resigned from office on December 12, 1873, with no trial having yet been held on his impeachment. He died in Kansas City, Kansas
.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
, and an early supporter of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. A friend of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
, Delahay was appointed by Lincoln to the federal bench, but he resigned a decade later under threat of impeachment
Impeachment in the United States
Impeachment in the United States is an expressed power of the legislature that allows for formal charges against a civil officer of government for crimes committed in office...
, brought about by allegations of alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
.
Early life
Born in Talbot County, MarylandTalbot County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*81.4% White*12.8% Black*0.2% Native American*1.2% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.6% Two or more races*2.7% Other races*5.5% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Delahay entered private practice in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
sometime before 1853. He was an editor for the Virginia Observer, a newspaper of Virginia, Illinois
Virginia, Illinois
Virginia is a city in Cass County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,611 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Cass County.-Geography:Virginia is located at ....
from 1848 to 1849. In 1853, he relocated his practice to Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, and in 1855 moved again to practice in Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth is the largest city and county seat of Leavenworth County, in the U.S. state of Kansas and within the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area. Located in the northeast portion of the state, it is on the west bank of the Missouri River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
. In 1857, he became the owner and editor of a Kansas newspaper, The Territorial Register. He was a chief clerk in the Kansas Territorial House of Representatives from 1860 to 1861, and then a surveyor
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
general of Kansas and Nebraska from 1861 to 1863.
Delahey had a personal friendship with Abraham Lincoln originating with their mutual cause in establishing the Republican Party. In 1859, Delahay sought the Republican nomination for a United States Senate seat for Kansas.
Federal judicial service
On October 6, 1863, Delahay received a recess appointmentRecess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
from President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Kansas
United States District Court for the District of Kansas
The United States District Court for the District of Kansas is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Kansas. The Court operates out of the Robert J. Dole United States Courthouse in Kansas City, the Frank Carlson Federal Building in Topeka, and the United States Courthouse...
vacated by Archibald Williams. He was formally nominated to the seat on December 14, 1863, but his confirmation by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
did not come until March 15, 1864. He received his commission on the day of his confirmation.
Delahey was impeached by the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
on February 28, 1873 for "intoxication off the bench as well as on the bench", but he resigned from office on December 12, 1873, with no trial having yet been held on his impeachment. He died in Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City is the third-largest city in the state of Kansas and is the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the third largest city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The city is part of a consolidated city-county government known as the "Unified...
.
External links
- Biography of Mark W. Delahay from the Kansas State Historical Society