Gove Saulsbury

Dr. Gove Saulsbury (May 29 1815 – July 31 1881) was an American physician and politician from Dover, in 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
Saulsbury was born May 29 1815 in Mispillion Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, son of William and Margaret Ann Smith Saulsbury. He was the older brother of U.S. Senators Willard Saulsbury, Sr. and Eli M. Saulsbury, and uncle of U.S. Senator Willard Saulsbury, Jr. Gove Saulsbury attended Delaware College in Newark and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School in 1842. He married Rosina Jane Smith and had five children: Margaret, Olivia Smith, Rosa, Gove, and William. Saulsbury was a medical doctor and lived at the northwest corner of the Green in Dover. He and his family were members of the Methodist Church. In 1861 he was President of the Delaware Medical Society.

Political career
Saulsbury was elected to the State Senate and served in the 1863/64 and 1865/66 sessions. He was the Speaker in the 1865/66 session and succeeded to the office of Governor of Delaware on the death of Governor William Cannon on March 1 1865. Defeating James Riddle of New Castle County, he was elected to a full term in his own right in 1866, and continued in office until January 17 1871. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1876.

With Saulsbury as Governor the Democratic Party took full control in Delaware. Under Saulsbury’s leadership, this was a party that bitterly detested virtually anything associated with the Republican policies of the federal government, and particularly its actions to end slavery and expand rights to African-Americans. Strongly opposed to the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Saulsbury and the Democrats took every possible step to frustrate their implementation and deny the new rights given to African-Americans. This included the recommendation that African-Americans convicted of certain crimes, be sold back into slavery. Their fear mongering was so successful that no Republicans were elected to the Delaware General Assembly in 1868, and hardly any for many years thereafter.

When Saulsbury’s term was over he wanted to assume the U.S. Senate held by his brother, Willard Saulsbury. Willard had compromised himself with a well-known drinking problem, and many wanted him replaced. Unfortunately for Gove Saulsbury, the third brother, Eli M. Saulsbury also wanted the seat. After much balloting in the General Assembly, it became apparent to Willard that he could not win, so he switched his votes to Eli, who consequently won. Gove Saulsbury returned to his medical practice full time.

The 73rd, 74th and 75th Delaware General Assembly sat during Saulsbury’s terms of office. The 73rd General Assembly met in 1865/66 and had a Democratic majority in both houses, as did both the 74th General Assembly, which met in 1867/68, and the 75th General Assembly, which met in 1869/70.

Death and legacy
Saulsbury died July 31 1881 at Dover, Delaware, and is buried in the Whatcoat Methodist Cemetery in Dover. He was President of the Delaware Medical Society in 1861 and in 1873 was one of the founders of Wesley College in Dover.

Saulsbury was a strong and effective leader for a bitterly reactionary majority in Delaware, and his policies set the tone and the agenda for much political activity for a generation. According to Scharf, Saulsbury had “a deep sense of personal responsibility. He had a strong will and asserted his opinions earnestly and often, and as it seemed to those who differed with him, obstinately.” Governor Robert J. Reynolds described him as “distinguished for his cunning. He was the slyest, cunningest man, and the most natural born politician Delaware ever produced." He was said to have “never apologized, compromised, or surrendered, unless it was in his interest.”

Public offices
Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1st. Members of the Delaware General Assembly took office the first Tuesday of January. State Senators have a four 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" ! Office ! Type ! Location ! Elected ! Took Office ! Left Office ! notes
 * -bgcolor=#cccccc
 * State Senator
 * Legislature
 * Dover
 * 1862
 * January 6 1863
 * March 1 1865
 * Speaker
 * Governor
 * Executive
 * Dover
 * March 1 1865
 * January 15 1867
 * Acting
 * Governor
 * Executive
 * Dover
 * 1866
 * January 15 1867
 * January 17 1871
 * Dover
 * 1866
 * January 15 1867
 * January 17 1871

Election results
{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center" !Year !Office ! !Subject !Party !Votes !% ! !Opponent !Party !Votes !%
 * -bgcolor=#cccccc
 * 1866
 * Governor
 * |Gove Saulsbury
 * |Democratic
 * |9,810
 * |53%
 * |James Riddle
 * |Republican
 * |8,598
 * |47%
 * |Republican
 * |8,598
 * |47%

Images

 * Portrait courtesy of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Dover.

Places with more information

 * Historical Society of Delaware 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware (302) 655-7161
 * University of Delaware Library 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 831-2965