United States Senate elections, 1796
Encyclopedia
The United States Senate election of 1796 was an election for the United States Senate
which, coinciding with John Adams
's election as President
, had the ruling Federalist Party gain one seat.
As this election was prior to ratification of the seventeenth amendment
, Senators were chosen by State legislatures.
(1797–1799):
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...
which, coinciding with John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
's election as President
United States presidential election, 1796
The United States presidential election of 1796 was the first contested American presidential election and the only one in which a president and vice- president were elected from opposing tickets...
, had the ruling Federalist Party gain one seat.
As this election was prior to ratification of the seventeenth amendment
Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution established direct election of United States Senators by popular vote. The amendment supersedes Article I, § 3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Constitution, under which senators were elected by state legislatures...
, Senators were chosen by State legislatures.
Results
5th Congress5th United States Congress
The Fifth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives...
(1797–1799):
- Majority Party: Federalist (22)
- Minority Party: Democratic-Republican (10)
- Other Parties: 0
- Total Seats: 32
Senate composition before and after elections
EWLINE
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| Key: |
|---|
| DR = Democratic-Republican Democratic-Republican Party (United States) The Democratic-Republican Party or Republican Party was an American political party founded in the early 1790s by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Political scientists use the former name, while historians prefer the latter one; contemporaries generally called the party the "Republicans", along... |
| F = Federalist Federalist Party (United States) The Federalist Party was the first American political party, from the early 1790s to 1816, the era of the First Party System, with remnants lasting into the 1820s. The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801... |
| V = Vacant |
| [Bracketed] seat changed parties |
Complete list of races
All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats, except where noted.| State | Incumbent | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | James Hillhouse James Hillhouse James Hillhouse was an American lawyer, real estate developer, and politician from New Haven, Connecticut. He represented Connecticut in both the U.S. House and Senate... (F) |
James Hillhouse James Hillhouse James Hillhouse was an American lawyer, real estate developer, and politician from New Haven, Connecticut. He represented Connecticut in both the U.S. House and Senate... (F) |
Incumbent re-elected. |
| Connecticut Special (class 3) |
Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. was an American politician who served as the second Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.... (F) |
Uriah Tracy Uriah Tracy Uriah Tracy was an American politician from Connecticut who served in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.... (F) |
Trumbull resigned June 10, 1796 to become Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut Tracy was elected October 13, 1796 to finish the term. |
| Delaware | Henry Latimer Henry Latimer (senator) Dr. Henry Latimer was an American physician and politician from Newport, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was elected to the Continental Congress from Delaware, and was a member of the Federalist Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly, as U.S. Representative from Delaware, and U.S... (F) |
Henry Latimer Henry Latimer (senator) Dr. Henry Latimer was an American physician and politician from Newport, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was elected to the Continental Congress from Delaware, and was a member of the Federalist Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly, as U.S. Representative from Delaware, and U.S... (F) |
Incumbent re-elected. |
| Georgia Special (class 3) |
George Walton George Walton George Walton signed the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of Georgia and also served as the second Chief Executive of that state.-Life and work:... (F) |
Josiah Tattnall Josiah Tattnall Commodore Josiah Tattnall, Jr. was an officer in the United States Navy during the War of 1812, the Second Barbary War, and the Mexican-American War. He later served in the Confederate Navy during the American Civil War.... (DR) |
Walton was an interim appointee. Tattnall was elected February 20, 1796 to finish the term. |
| Maryland Special (class 1) |
Richard Potts Richard Potts Richard Potts was an American politician and jurist.-Early life and career:Potts was born in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and lived there until he moved with his family to the Barbados Islands in 1757. He returned to Maryland and settled in the state capital of Annapolis in 1761, where he studied law... (F) |
John Eager Howard John Eager Howard John Eager Howard was an American soldier and politician from Maryland. He was elected as governor of the state in 1789, and served three one-year terms. He also was elected to the Continental Congress, Congress of the United States and the US Senate. He was born in and died in Baltimore County... (F) |
Potts resigned October 24, 1796. Howard was elected November 30, 1796 to finish the term |
| Maryland General (class 1) |
Howard was elected November 30, 1796 to the next term. | ||
| Massachusetts Special (class 1) |
George Cabot George Cabot George Cabot was an American merchant, seaman, and politician from Boston, Massachusetts. He represented Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate and as the Presiding Officer of the Hartford Convention.-Early life:... (F) |
Benjamin Goodhue Benjamin Goodhue Benjamin Goodhue was a Representative and a Senator from Massachusetts.Goodhue was born in Salem, Massachusetts and graduated from Harvard College in 1766. He worked as a merchant and became a member of the State house of representatives 1780-1782 and later a State senator in 1783 and 1786-1788... (F) |
Cabot resigned June 9, 1796. Goodhue was elected June 11, 1796 to finish the term |
| Massachusetts General (class 1) |
Goodhue was elected June 11, 1796 to the next term. | ||
| Massachusetts Special (class 2) |
Caleb Strong Caleb Strong Caleb Strong was Massachusetts lawyer and politician who served as the sixth and tenth Governor of Massachusetts between 1800 and 1807, and again from 1812 until 1816.-Biography:... (F) |
Theodore Sedgwick Theodore Sedgwick Theodore Sedgwick was an attorney, politician and jurist, who served in elected state government and as a Delegate to the Continental Congress, a US Representative, and a United States Senator from Massachusetts. He served as the fifth Speaker of the United States House of Representatives... (F) |
Strong resigned June 1, 1796. Sedgwick was elected June 11, 1796 to finish the term. |
| New Jersey | John Rutherfurd John Rutherfurd John Rutherfurd was an American politician and land surveyor.John Rutherfurd was born in New York City. His parents were Walter and Mary Rutherfurd. Walter was a veteran of the British Army, and was a hostage of Patriots during the Revolutionary War while John was a teenager. Walter died in 1804... (F) |
John Rutherfurd John Rutherfurd John Rutherfurd was an American politician and land surveyor.John Rutherfurd was born in New York City. His parents were Walter and Mary Rutherfurd. Walter was a veteran of the British Army, and was a hostage of Patriots during the Revolutionary War while John was a teenager. Walter died in 1804... (F) |
Incumbent re-elected. |
| New York United States Senate election in New York, 1797 The 1797 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 24, 1797, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator to represent the State of New York in the United States Senate.-Background:... |
Aaron Burr Aaron Burr Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician... (DR) |
Philip Schuyler Philip Schuyler Philip John Schuyler was a general in the American Revolution and a United States Senator from New York. He is usually known as Philip Schuyler, while his son is usually known as Philip J. Schuyler.-Early life:... (F) |
Incumbent defeated. |
| New York United States Senate special election in New York, 1796 The 1796 United States Senate special election in New York was held on November 9, 1796, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator to represent the State of New York in the United States Senate.-Background:... Special (class 3) |
Rufus King Rufus King Rufus King was an American lawyer, politician, and diplomat. He was a delegate for Massachusetts to the Continental Congress. He also attended the Constitutional Convention and was one of the signers of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania... (F) |
John Laurance John Laurance John Laurance was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He emigrated to the United States in 1767 and settled in New York City where he read law and entered private practice in 1772. At the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, he was a warm adherent of the revolutionaries... (F) |
King resigned May 23, 1796 to become U.S. Minister to Great Britain. Laurance was elected November 9, 1796 to finish the term. |
| Pennsylvania | James Ross James Ross James Ross may refer to:* James Ross, 4th Lord Ross , Scottish nobleman and an adherent to the cause of Mary, Queen of Scots* James Ross, 6th Lord Ross , Scottish nobleman* James Ross, 7th Lord Ross , Scottish nobleman... (F) |
James Ross James Ross James Ross may refer to:* James Ross, 4th Lord Ross , Scottish nobleman and an adherent to the cause of Mary, Queen of Scots* James Ross, 6th Lord Ross , Scottish nobleman* James Ross, 7th Lord Ross , Scottish nobleman... (F) |
Incumbent re-elected. |
| Rhode Island | Theodore Foster Theodore Foster Theodore Foster was an American politician. He was a member of the Federalist Party and later the National Republican Party. He served as one of the first two United States Senators from Rhode Island and, following John Langdon, served as dean of the Senate... (F) |
Theodore Foster Theodore Foster Theodore Foster was an American politician. He was a member of the Federalist Party and later the National Republican Party. He served as one of the first two United States Senators from Rhode Island and, following John Langdon, served as dean of the Senate... (F) |
Incumbent re-elected. |
| South Carolina Special (class 2) |
Pierce Butler Pierce Butler Pierce Butler was a soldier, planter, and statesman, recognized as one of United States' Founding Fathers. He represented South Carolina in the Continental Congress, the 1787 Constitutional Convention, and the U.S. Senate... (DR) |
John Hunter (DR) | Butler resigned October 25, 1796. Hunter was elected December 8, 1796 to finish the term. |
| Tennessee | William Cocke William Cocke William Cocke was an American lawyer, pioneer, and statesman. He has the distinction of having served in the state legislature of four different states: Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Mississippi, and was one of the first two United States senators for Tennessee.-Biography:William was... (DR) |
William Cocke William Cocke William Cocke was an American lawyer, pioneer, and statesman. He has the distinction of having served in the state legislature of four different states: Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Mississippi, and was one of the first two United States senators for Tennessee.-Biography:William was... (DR) |
Incumbent re-elected. |
| Vermont Special (class 1) |
Moses Robinson Moses Robinson Moses Robinson prominent Vermont political figure who served as governor during the Vermont Republic, and helped steward Vermont's transition to U.S. statehood. Not to be confused with the black dancer Moses J. Robinson from West Haven, Utah.Robinson was born in Hardwick, Massachusetts where he... (F) |
Isaac Tichenor Isaac Tichenor Isaac Tichenor was the third and fifth Governor of Vermont and also served as a jurist and a United States Senator.Tichenor was born in Newark, New Jersey... (F) |
Robinson resigned October 15, 1796. Tichenor was elected October 18, 1796 to finish the term. |
| Vermont General (class 1) |
Tichenor was elected October 18, 1796 to the next term. | ||
| Virginia | Stevens Mason Stevens Thomson Mason (Virginia) Stevens Thomson Mason was a Colonel in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, a member of the Virginia state legislature and a Republican U.S. Senator from Virginia .-Early life and military career:... (DR) |
Stevens Mason Stevens Thomson Mason (Virginia) Stevens Thomson Mason was a Colonel in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, a member of the Virginia state legislature and a Republican U.S. Senator from Virginia .-Early life and military career:... (DR) |
Incumbent re-elected. |
See also
- United States presidential election, 1796United States presidential election, 1796The United States presidential election of 1796 was the first contested American presidential election and the only one in which a president and vice- president were elected from opposing tickets...
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1796
- 5th United States Congress5th United States CongressThe Fifth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives...