John Collins (governor)

Infobox Officeholder
honorific-prefix =
name = John Collins
honorific-suffix =

---

imagesize =
small

office = Governor of Delaware
term_start = January 16 1821
term_end = April 16 1822
predecessor = Jacob Stout
successor = Caleb Rodney
birth_date = birth date|1776|3|1|mf=y
birth_place = Sussex County, Delaware
death_date = death date and age|1822|4|16|1776|3|1
death_place = Sussex County, Delaware
spouse = Jane Hall
party = Democratic-Republican
residence = Sussex County, Delaware
alma_mater =
occupation =
profession = manufacturer
religion = Methodist

John Collins (March 1 1776 – April 16 1822) was an American manufacturer and politician from Collins Mill Pond, in Nanticoke Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, who served as Governor of Delaware.

Early life and family

Collins was born March 1 1776 at Collins Mill Pond, in Nanticoke Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware, son of Captain John and Mary Houston Collins. His father was mined bog ore from his property and served twelve years in the Delaware General Assembly. His sister married future Governor David Hazzard. The younger John Collins married Jane Hall, daughter of former Governor David Hall, and had six children, Theophilus, John, Joseph, Sarah, Catherine, and Martha. Their home was at the Collins Mill Pond in Nanticoke Hundred, where he continued the operation of a mill. It is believed they were members of the Methodist Church.

Political career

Collins was elected Governor in 1820 by defeating the Federalist candidate, long time member of General Assembly, Jesse Green. He was Governor from January 16 1821 until his death on April 16 1822. Collins was known for his interest in improving public education. It was during his term that a controversial transit duty began being assessed to support the beginning of a new college in Newark. He also appointed Willard Hall, the future "father of public education," as Secretary of State. Both of these actions would achieve results in later years.

Death and legacy

Collins died April 16 1822 at Collins Mill Pond, in Nanticoke Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware. He is buried there, on the family farm.

No known portrait of John Collins exists.

{|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
-
1821
45th|
Party shading/Federalist |Federalist
Party shading/Federalist |Caleb Rodney|
Party shading/Federalist |Federalist
Party shading/Federalist |John Cummins
-
1822
46th|
Party shading/Federalist |Federalist
Party shading/Federalist |Caleb Rodney|
Party shading/Federalist |Federalist
Party shading/Federalist |Alrichs Ryland###@@@KEYEND@@@###
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

Almanac

Elections were held on the first Tuesday of October. The Governor takes office the third Tuesday in January, and had a three 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-Jacksonian
Governor
Executive
Dover
1820
January 16 1821
April 16 1822
died in office
###@@@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!%
-
1820
Governor|
Party shading/Democratic-Republican |John Collins
Party shading/Democratic-Republican |Democratic-Republican
Party shading/Democratic-Republican |3,970
Party shading/Democratic-Republican |53%|
Party shading/Federalist |Jesse Green
Party shading/Federalist |Federalist
Party shading/Federalist |3,520
Party shading/Federalist |47%
###@@@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 = Democracy in Delaware |last= Hoffecker |first= Carol E. |coauthors= |work= |publisher= Cedar Tree Books |location= Wilmington, Delaware |pages= |year= 2004 |id= ISBN 1-892142-23-6
*cite book |title = 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 |year = 1888 |id =

External links

* [http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=33ea224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD John Collins at the "Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States"]
* [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/collins5.html#RKD0IH3IA John Collins at the "Political Graveyard"]
* [http://www.russpickett.com/history/delgov2.htm#jcollins John Collins 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]