- John Patten (representative)
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This article is about the soldier and politician from late eighteenth century Delaware, for others see John Patten.
John Patten Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Delaware's At-large districtIn office
March 4, 1795 – March 3, 1797Preceded by Henry Latimer Succeeded by James A. Bayard In office
March 4, 1793 – February 14, 1794Preceded by John M. Vining Succeeded by Henry Latimer Continental Congressman
from DelawareIn office
November 7, 1785 – November 3, 1786Personal details Born April 26, 1746
Kent County, DelawareDied December 26, 1800 (aged 54)
Dover, DelawarePolitical party Democratic-Republican Spouse(s) Ann Haslet
Mary Miller LoockermanResidence Dover, Delaware Occupation farmer Religion Presbyterian Major John Patten (April 26, 1746 – December 26, 1800) was an American farmer and politician from Dover, in Kent County, Delaware. He was an officer of the Continental Army in the American Revolution, a Continental Congressman, and a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly and as U.S. Representative from Delaware.
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Early life and family
Patten was born at Tynhead Court, near Dover, Delaware, son of John Patten and Ann Maxwell. This property was on the present Dover Air Force Base, near the farms of Caesar Rodney and John Dickinson. He was a farmer, who after the American Revolution married Ann Haslet, daughter of the first Colonel of the 1st Delaware Regiment, John Haslet. She died soon thereafter, and he married Mary Miller Loockerman, daughter of the Rev. John Miller and widow of Vincent Loockerman.
American Revolution
Patten was commissioned a first lieutenant in Captain John Caldwell's 2nd Company of the 1st Delaware Regiment at the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. He was soon promoted to captain of the 1st Company and in February 1779 and was promoted to the rank of major. He fought in every major battle from the Battle of Long Island until the Battle of Camden, where the Delaware Regiment suffered grievous losses, and he was taken prisoner. Paroled in 1781, after the fighting was over, he is said to have walked home alone in rags from Charleston, South Carolina.
Political career
Patten was elected in 1785 to the State House or House of Assembly, as it was then known, and represented Kent County, during the 1785/86 session. At the same time he was elected to the Continental Congress in 1785 and served there one year. He won a closely contested election to the U.S. House in 1792 and took his seat in the U.S. House on March 4, 1793. However, Henry Latimer, the Federal candidate contested the election, claiming that many ballots were invalid because they were filled out incorrectly. After a lengthy study the Federalist majority in the U.S. House voted on February 14, 1794 to invalidate enough ballots to award the seat to Latimer. A few months later Patten again defeated Latimer, and this time served the whole term, from March 4, 1795 until March 3, 1797. Brought out of political retirement in 1800, Patten was defeated for the U.S. House seat by the incumbent Federalist James A. Bayard.
Death and legacy
Patten died at his home, Tynhead Court, near Dover, and is buried in the Old Presbyterian Cemetery, which is at Dover, on the grounds of the Delaware State Museum. He had a home on the north side of Front Street, between Orange and Tatnall Streets in Wilmington, Delaware, but was always a legal resident of Kent County. He was active in the Philadelphia Society for promoting Agriculture, the Society of the Cincinnati, and the Lyceum of Delaware.
Almanac
Elections were held October 1. Members of the General Assembly took office on October 20 or the following weekday. The State Assemblymen were elected for a one year term. They chose the Continental Congressmen for a one year term. U.S. Representatives took office March 4 and have a two year term.
After 1792 elections were moved to the first Tuesday of October and members of the General Assembly took office on the first Tuesday of January. The State Legislative Council was renamed the State Senate and the State House of Assembly was renamed the State House of Representatives.
Public Offices Office Type Location Party Began office Ended office notes State House Legislature Dover non-partisan October 20, 1785 October 20, 1786 Continental Congress Legislature New York non-partisan November 7, 1785 November 3, 1786 U.S. Representative Legislature Philadelphia Republican March 4, 1793 February 14, 1794 [1] U.S. Representative Legislature Philadelphia Republican March 4, 1795 March 3, 1797 United States Congressional service Dates Congress Chamber Majority President Committees Class/District 1793–1795 3rd U.S. House Anti-Administration George Washington at-large 1795–1797 4th U.S. House Republican George Washington at-large Election results Year Office Subject Party votes % Opponent Party votes % 1792 U.S. Representative John Patten Republican 2,273 50% Henry Latimer Federalist 2,243 50% 1794 U.S. Representative John Patten Republican 2,409 51% Henry Latimer Federalist 2,285 49% 1800 U.S. Representative John Patten Republican 2,340 47% James A. Bayard, Sr. Federalist 2,674 53% Notes
- ^ election successfully contested and seat awarded to Henry Latimer
References
- Martin, Roger A. (2003). Delawareans in Congress: The House of Representatives, Vol. One 1789-1900. Newark: Roger A. Martin. ISBN 0-924117-26-5.
- Martin, Roger A. (1995). Memoirs of the Senate. Newark: Roger A. Martin.
- Munroe, John A. (2004). The Philadelawareans. Newark: University of Delaware Press. ISBN 0-87413-872-8.
- Munroe, John A. (1954). Federalist Delaware 1775-1815. New Brunswick: Rutgers University.
- Ward, Christopher (1941). The Delaware Continentals. Wilmington, DE: Historical Society of Delaware. ISBN 0-924117-21-4.
- Wilson, W. Emerson (1969). Forgotten Heroes of Delaware. Cambridge, MA: Deltos Publishing Company.
Images
- Martin, Roger A. (2003). Delawareans in Congress: The House of Representatives, Vol. One 1789-1900. Newark: Roger A. Martin. ISBN 0-924117-26-5. Portrait courtesy of the Delaware Public Archives.
External links
- Biographical Dictionary of the U.S. Congress
- Delaware's Members of Congress
- Find A Grave
- The Political Graveyard
Places with more information
- Delaware Historical Society; website; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; (302) 655-7161
- University of Delaware; Library website; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; (302) 831-2965
- Historical Society of Pennsylvania website 1300 Locust St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (215) 732-6200.
Government of Delaware U.S. Senators • U.S. Representatives (Delegations) • Governors • Lt. Governors • Attorneys General • State Senators • State Representatives • Judges • MayorsCategories:- 1746 births
- 1800 deaths
- American Presbyterians
- People from Dover, Delaware
- American farmers
- Continental Army officers from Delaware
- American Revolutionary War prisoners of war
- Delaware Democratic-Republicans
- Members of the Delaware House of Representatives
- Continental Congressmen from Delaware
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Delaware
- Burials in Dover, Delaware
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