William H. Wells

Infobox Officeholder
honorific-prefix =
name = William H. Wells
honorific-suffix =

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imagesize =
small

office = U. S. Senator from Delaware
term_start = May 21 1813
term_end = March 3 1817
predecessor = James A. Bayard
successor = Nicholas Van Dyke
office2 =
term_start2 = January 17 1799
term_end2 = November 6 1804
predecessor2 = Joshua Clayton
successor2 = James A. Bayard
birth_date = birth date|1769|1|7|mf=y
birth_place = Burlington New Jersey
death_date = death date and age|1829|3|11|1769|1|7
death_place = Dagsboro Delaware
spouse = Rachael Dagworthy
party = Federalist
residence = Dagsboro Delaware
alma_mater =
occupation =
profession = lawyer
religion =

William Hill Wells (January 7 1769 – March 11 1829) was a lawyer and politician from Dagsboro, in Sussex County Delaware. He was a member of the Federalist Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly and as U.S. Senator from Delaware.

Early life and family

Wells was born January 7 1769 in Burlington New Jersey. His family came to Sussex County when he was young, and his father began a successful mercantile business at Dagsboro, which the younger Wells continued. His marriage to Rachael Dagworthy, the daughter of Revolutionary General John Dagworthy, greatly increased his wealth, as she had inherited large tracts of Sussex County timberlands. Meanwhile he studied the law, was admitted to the bar in 1791, and practiced at Georgetown Delaware, eventually expanding to Dover Delaware.

Political career

Wells represented Sussex County for several years in the Delaware General Assembly, initially serving in the State House from the 1795 session through the 1799 session. He was then elected as a Federalist to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Joshua Clayton and served from January 17 1799 until November 6 1804. During this time he joined his Federalist colleagues in opposition to the Louisiana Purchase. He resigned before the completion of his term to seek his fortune in the oil business in northern Pennsylvania. He returned to the State House for the 1811 and 1812 sessions, and spent the 1813 session in the State Senate. He was again elected as a Federalist to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James A. Bayard, and served from May 28 1813, to March 3 1817. Finally, he served once more in the 1819 session of the State House.

All the while he continued the practice of law in Dagsboro and Millsboro, and became heavily involved in the oil business in Pennsylvania, where the town of Wellsboro Pennsylvania was named in his honor.

Death and legacy

Wells died March 11 1829 near Dagsboro Delaware, and is buried in Prince George’s Churchyard, near Dagsboro.

Almanac

Elections were held the first Tuesday of October. Members of the Delaware General Assembly took office on the first Tuesday of January, with the State Senate serving a three year term, and the State House a one year term. The General Assembly chose the U.S Senators, who took office March 4 and served for a six year term.