Thomas Stockton

Infobox Officeholder
honorific-prefix =
name = Thomas Stockton
honorific-suffix =


imagesize =
small

office = Governor of Delaware
term_start = January 21 1845
term_end = March 2 1846
predecessor = William B. Cooper
successor = Joseph Maull
birth_date = birth date|1781|4|1|mf=y
birth_place = New Castle County, Delaware
death_date = death date and age|1846|3|2|1781|4|1
death_place = New Castle, Delaware
spouse = Fidelia Johns
party = Whig
residence = New Castle, Delaware
alma_mater =
occupation = soldier
profession =
religion = Episcopalian

Thomas Stockton (April 1 1781 – March 2 1846) was an American soldier and politician from New Castle, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a veteran of the War of 1812, and a member of the Whig Party, who served as Governor of Delaware.

Early life and family

Stockton was born April 1 1781 in New Castle Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware, son of John and Nancy Griffin Stockton. His father was a Brigadier General in the War of 1812, leading the 1st Brigade of Delaware militia. He married Fidelia Johns, daughter of Chancellor Kensey Johns, and they had five children, Thomas, William, James, Elizabeth, and Fidelia. They lived in the Kensey Johns-Van Dyke house at 300 Delaware Street and were members of the Immanuel Episcopal Church in New Castle.

Military career

After graduating from Princeton College, Stockton joined the Delaware militia. During the War of 1812 he was part of the attack on Fort George on the Niagara River and fought at Lundy's Lane. Eventually he was promoted to a Major in the 42nd Infantry. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1825.

Political career

Stockton was the New Castle County Register in Chancery from 1832 to 1835. Several years later, in 1844, he was elected Governor of Delaware by defeating William Tharp, the Democratic Party candidate. He took office January 21 1845 and served until his death on March 2 1846. He was the sixth Governor of Delaware to die in office.

{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
-bgcolor=#cccccc!colspan=12 style="background: #ccccff;" |Delaware General Assembly
"(sessions while Governor)"
-!Year!Assembly!!Senate Majority!Speaker!!House Majority!Speaker
-
1845-1846
63rd|
Party shading/Whig |Whig
Party shading/Whig |Joseph Maull|
Party shading/Whig |Whig
Party shading/Whig |William Temple
-
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

Death and legacy

Stockton died March 2 1846 at New Castle, Delaware, and is buried there, at the Immanuel Episcopal Church Cemetery. Several of his sons and grandsons served in the Civil War.

Almanac

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1st. The Governor takes office the third Tuesday of January and has a four year term.

{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
-bgcolor=#cccccc!colspan=7 style="background: #ccccff;" | Public Offices
-! Office! Type! Location! Elected! Took Office! Left Office! notes
-Party shading/Anti-Administration
Register in Chancery
Judiciary
New Castle
1831
1832
1835|
-Party shading/Anti-Jacksonian
Governor
Executive
Dover
1844
January 21 1845
March 2 1846|
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
-bgcolor=#cccccc!colspan=12 style="background: #ccccff;" |Election results
-!Year!Office!!Subject!Party!Votes!%!!Opponent!Party!Votes!%
-
1844
Governor|
Party shading/Whig |Thomas Stockton
Party shading/Whig |Whig
Party shading/Whig |6,140
Party shading/Whig |50%|
Party shading/Democratic |William Tharp
Party shading/Democratic |Democratic
Party shading/Democratic |6,095
Party shading/Democratic |50%
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

References

*cite book |title = History of the State of Delaware |last= Conrad |first= Henry C. |coauthors= |work= |publisher= Wickersham Company |location= Lancaster, Pennsylvania |pages= |year= 1908 |id=
*cite book |title= A History of Delaware Through its Governors |last= Martin |first= Roger A. |coauthors= |work= |publisher= McClafferty Press |location= Wilmington, Delaware |pages= |year= 1984 |id=
*cite book |title= History of Delaware 1609-1888. 2 vols. |last= Scharf |first= John Thomas |coauthors= |work= |publisher= L. J. Richards & Co. |location= Philadelphia |pages= |year= 1888 |id= ISBN 0-87413-493-5

=

* [http://www.state.de.us/research/Tour/information/Governors/govs-12.shtml Hall of Governors Portrait Gallery] "Portrait courtesy of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Dover."

External links

* [http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=7e4b224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD Thomas Stockton at the "Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States"]
*Find A Grave|id=6659392
* [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/stockton.html#RKD0IVIQV Thomas Stockton at the "Political Graveyard"]
* [http://www.russpickett.com/history/delgov2.htm#stockton Thomas Stockton at "Delaware’s Governors"]

Places with more information

* [http://www.hsd.org/ Historical Society of Delaware] , 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware [phone]
* [http://www.lib.udel.edu/ University of Delaware Library] , 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware [phone]