James Sykes (governor)

Infobox Officeholder
honorific-prefix =
name = James Sykes
honorific-suffix =

---

imagesize =
small

office = Governor of Delaware
term_start = February 20 1801
term_end = January 19 1802
predecessor = Richard Bassett
successor = David Hall
birth_date = birth date|1761|3|27|mf=y
birth_place = Dover, Delaware
death_date = death date and age|1822|10|18|1761|3|27
death_place = Dover, Delaware
spouse = Elizabeth Goldsborough
party = Federalist
residence = Dover, Delaware
alma_mater =
occupation =
profession = physician
religion = Episcopalian

Dr. James Sykes (March 27 1761 – October 18 1822) was an American physician and politician from Dover, in Kent County, Delaware. He was a member of the Federalist Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly and as Governor of Delaware.

Early life and family

James Sykes was born near Dover, Delaware on March 27 1761, the son of James and Agnes Sykes. His father was a member of the Delaware General Assembly and a delegate to the Continental Congress. James, Jr. studied medicine under Dr. Joshua Clayton and first practiced in Cambridge, Maryland. While there he married Elizabeth Goldsborough, daughter of Judge Robert Goldsborough. After four years they returned to Dover, Delaware, living on The Green. They had three children; James, Anna Matilda, and William, and were members of Christ Episcopal Church. Their house is now an office building.

Political career

In 1791 the Delaware General Assembly appointed Sykes to help manage a lottery to raise one thousand pounds to defray expenses incurred in constructing a new state house. After serving as clerk for the State House in 1796, he was elected to the State Senate in 1793. He served one term for the 1794, 1795, and 1796 sessions. Returning a year later, he served six more terms from the 1798 session through the 1812 session. He was Speaker in 1801, and then in every session from 1804 through 1812.

On February 20 1801, Governor Richard Bassett resigned following his appointment as U.S. Circuit Court Judge by U.S. President John Adams. As the Speaker of the State Senate, Sykes was next in line of succession and took office as Governor. He chose not to run for election in his right, and returned to the State Senate on January 19 1802.

{|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
-
1801
25th|
Party shading/Federalist |Federalist
Party shading/Federalist |vacant|
Party shading/Federalist |Federalist
Party shading/Federalist |Stephen Lewis
-
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

Professional career

In the meantime, Sykes had become one of the state's most renowned surgeons. From his office at 45 The Green in Dover, he specialized in treating gallstones and yellow fever. In 1814 he moved his practice to New York City for six years, but then returned to the Dover practice with his son, James. In 1822 he became President of the Delaware Medical Society.

Death and legacy

Sykes died October 18 1822 in Dover, Delaware, and is buried there, at Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery. His son, James, was a physician in Dover and his son, William was the father of Major General George Sykes, a commander at Gettysburg in the American Civil War.

Almanac

Elections were held the first Tuesday of October. Members of the Delaware General Assembly took office the first Tuesday of January. State Senators had a three year term. The Governor takes office the third Tuesday of 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
State Senator
Legislature
Dover
1793
January 6 1794
January 6 1797|
-Party shading/Anti-Jacksonian
State Senator
Legislature
Dover
1797
January 6 1798
January 6 1801|
-Party shading/Anti-Jacksonian
State Senator
Legislature
Dover
1800
January 6 1801
February 20 1801 |
-Party shading/Anti-Jacksonian
Governor
Executive
Dover|
February 20 1801
January 19 1802
acting
-Party shading/Anti-Jacksonian
State Senator
Legislature
Dover
1801
January 6 1802
January 6 1804|
-Party shading/Anti-Jacksonian
State Senator
Legislature
Dover
1803
January 6 1804
January 6 1807|
-Party shading/Anti-Jacksonian
State Senator
Legislature
Dover
1806
January 6 1807
January 6 1810|
-Party shading/Anti-Jacksonian
State Senator
Legislature
Dover
1809
January 6 1810
January 6 1813|
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
-bgcolor=#cccccc!colspan=7 style="background: #ccccff;" |Delaware General Assembly "service"
-! Dates! Assembly! Chamber! Majority! Governor! Committees! District
-Party shading/Federalist
1794
18th
State Senate
Federalist
Joshua Clayton|
Kent "at-large"
-Party shading/Federalist
1795
19th
State Senate
Federalist
Joshua Clayton|
Kent "at-large"
-Party shading/Federalist
1796
20th
State Senate
Federalist
Gunning Bedford, Sr.|
Kent "at-large"
-Party shading/Federalist
1798
22nd
State Senate
Federalist
Daniel Rogers|
Kent "at-large"
-Party shading/Federalist
1799
23rd
State Senate
Federalist
Richard Bassett|
Kent "at-large"
-Party shading/Federalist
1800
24th
State Senate
Federalist
Richard Bassett
Speaker
Kent "at-large"
-Party shading/Federalist
1801
25th
State Senate
Federalist
Richard Bassett
Speaker
Kent "at-large"
-Party shading/Federalist
1802
26th
State Senate
Federalist
David Hall|
Kent "at-large"
-Party shading/Federalist
1803
27th
State Senate
Federalist
David Hall
Speaker
Kent "at-large"
-Party shading/Federalist
1804
28th
State Senate
Federalist
David Hall
Speaker
Kent "at-large"
-Party shading/Federalist
1805
29th
State Senate
Federalist
Nathaniel Mitchell
Speaker
Kent "at-large"
-Party shading/Federalist
1806
30th
State Senate
Federalist
Nathaniel Mitchell
Speaker
Kent "at-large"
-Party shading/Federalist
1807
31st
State Senate
Federalist
Nathaniel Mitchell
Speaker
Kent "at-large"
-Party shading/Federalist
1808
32nd
State Senate
Federalist
George Truitt
Speaker
Kent "at-large"
-Party shading/Federalist
1809
33rd
State Senate
Federalist
George Truitt
Speaker
Kent "at-large"
-Party shading/Federalist
1810
34th
State Senate
Federalist
George Truitt
Speaker
Kent "at-large"
-Party shading/Federalist
1811
35th
State Senate
Federalist
Joseph Haslet
Speaker
Kent "at-large"
-Party shading/Federalist
1812
36th
State Senate
Federalist
Joseph Haslet
Speaker
Kent "at-large"
###@@@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= Memoirs of the Senate |last= Martin |first= Roger A. |coauthors= |work= |publisher= Roger A. Martin |location= Newark, Delaware |pages= |year= 1995 |id=
*cite book |title= Federalist Delaware 1775-1815 |last= Munroe |first= John A. |coauthors= |work= |publisher= Rutgers University |location= New Brunswick, New Jersey |pages= |year= 1954 |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
*cite book |title= Forgotten Heroes of Delaware |last= Wilson |first= Emerson |coauthors= |work= |publisher= Deltos Publishing Company |location= Cambridge, Massachusetts |pages= |year= 1969 |id=

External links

* [http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=a0da224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD James Sykes at the "Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States"]
*Find A Grave|id=7367725
* [http://www.russpickett.com/history/delgov2.htm#sykes James Sykes at "Delaware’s Governors"]
* [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/sword-szymczak.html#RKD0I7E40 James Sykes at the "Political Graveyard"]

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]