Robert J. Reynolds

Infobox Officeholder
honorific-prefix =
name = Robert J. Reynolds
honorific-suffix =


imagesize =
small

office = Governor of Delaware
term_start = January 20 1891
term_end = January 15 1895
predecessor = Benjamin T. Biggs
successor = Joshua H. Marvil
birth_date = birth date|1838|3|17|mf=y
birth_place = Smyrna, Delaware
death_date = death date and age|1909|6|10|1838|3|17
death_place = Kent County, Delaware
spouse = Louvenia Riggs
Hester Thomas
party = Democratic
residence = Kent County, Delaware
alma_mater =
occupation = farmer
profession =
religion = Methodist

Robert John Reynolds (March 17 1838 – June 10 1909) was an American farmer and politician from Petersburg in South Murderkill Hundred, Kent County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly, and as Governor of Delaware.

Early life and family

Reynolds was born March 17 1838 in Smyrna, Delaware, son of Robert Wright and Sallie Gilder Marvel Reynolds. He married Louvenia Riggs and had one child, Byron, and later married Hester Thomas, with whom he had no children. They lived at "Golden Ridge", near Petersburg in South Murderkill Hundred, Kent County, Delaware and were members of the Methodist Church.

Political career

Reynolds was elected to the State House in 1868 and served the 1869/70 session. From 1879 until 1883 he was State Treasurer and in 1890 was elected the Governor of Delaware, defeating Harry A. Richardson, the Republican candidate. He served from January 20 1891 until January 15 1895.

During these years free textbooks were first provided to public school students, and Delaware State College was established in Dover.

Death and legacy

Reynolds died June 10 1909 at his home near Petersburg in South Murderkill Hundred, Kent County, Delaware and is buried at Loudon Park Cemetery, in Baltimore, Maryland.

Almanac

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1st. Members of the Delaware General Assembly took office the first Tuesday of January. State Representatives have a two year term. 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=12 style="background: #ccccff;" |Delaware General Assembly
"(sessions while Governor)"
-!Year!Assembly!!Senate Majority!Speaker!!House Majority!Speaker
-
1891-1892
86th|
Party shading/Democratic |Democratic
Party shading/Democratic |John P. Donohoe|
Party shading/Democratic |Democratic
Party shading/Democratic |William L. Sirman
-
1893-1894
87th|
Party shading/Democratic |Democratic
Party shading/Democratic |Charles B. Houston|
Party shading/Democratic |Democratic
Party shading/Democratic |J. Harvey Whiteman
-
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

{|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 Representative
Legislature
Dover
1868
January 6 1869
January 6 1871|
-Party shading/Anti-Jacksonian
State Treasurer
Executive
Dover|
1879
1883|
-Party shading/Anti-Jacksonian
Governor
Executive
Dover
1886
January 20 1891
January 15 1895|
###@@@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/Democratic
1869-1870
75th
State House
Democratic
Gove Saulsbury|
Kent "at-large"
###@@@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!%
-
1890
Governor|
Party shading/Democratic |Robert J. Reynolds
Party shading/Democratic |Democratic
Party shading/Democratic |17,801
Party shading/Democratic |51%|
Party shading/Republican |Harry A. Richardson
Party shading/Republican |Republican
Party shading/Republican |17,258
Party shading/Republican |49%
###@@@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= 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=

=

* [http://www.state.de.us/research/Tour/information/Governors/govs-25.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=5b6b224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD Robert J. Reynolds at the "Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States"]
* [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/reynolds.html#RKD0I48QN Robert J. Reynolds at the "Political Graveyard"]
*Find A Grave|id=7499665
* [http://www.russpickett.com/history/delgov3.htm#reyns Robert J. Reynolds 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]