Arnold Naudain

Dr. Arnold Snow Naudain (January 6, 1790 – January 4, 1872) was an American physician and politician from Odessa, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a veteran of the War of 1812, and a member of the Whig Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly and as U.S. Senator from Delaware.

Early life and family
Naudain was born near Dover, Delaware and graduated from the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University, in 1806. He then studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, graduated in 1810, and began practicing medicine in Dover. During the War of 1812 he served as surgeon general of the Delaware Militia.

Political career
Naudain was elected to the State House and served there in the 1817 and 1818 sessions. He was also elected to the 1826 session, when he was the Speaker. He ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Delaware in 1832 against Democrat Caleb P. Bennett.

He was elected by the Delaware General Assembly to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Louis McLane, and served from his election on January 13 1830 until he resigned on June 16 1836. During the 24th Congress he was the Chairman of the Committee on Claims. Naudain was an anti-Jacksonian when first elected, but became associated with the Whigs as that party formed. He held the position of collector of the port of Wilmington

Naudain served as a member of the board of trustees at Newark College, later the University of Delaware, from 1833 to 1835. An active Presbyterian layman, Naudain proposed that the University decline the proceeds of a state lottery due to the opposition of his church. The state threatened to ask the college to return proceeds purchased from the college's endowment, since they had been financed by an earlier lottery. The board of trustees voted 13-0 against rejecting the lottery proceeds. Naudain was one of seven trustees who refused to vote and subsequently resigned his position on the board.

After serving as senator, Naudain resumed the practice of medicine in Wilmington, Delaware. He held the position of collector of the port of Wilmington from 1841 until 1845. In that year he moved to Philadelphia and continued his practice there. He was a Freemason, serving at one time as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Delaware.

Death and legacy
Naudain died January 4 1872 and is buried in the Old Drawyer’s Presbyterian Churchyard at Odessa, Delaware.

{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center" ! Office ! Type ! Location ! Elected ! Took Office ! Left Office ! notes
 * -bgcolor=#cccccc
 * State Representative
 * Legislature
 * Dover
 * 1816
 * January 4, 1817
 * January 3, 1818
 * State Representative
 * Legislature
 * Dover
 * 1817
 * January 4, 1818
 * January 3, 1819
 * State Representative
 * Legislature
 * Dover
 * 1825
 * January 4, 1826
 * January 3, 1827
 * Speaker
 * U.S. Senator
 * Legislative
 * Washington
 * January 13, 1830
 * March 3, 1833
 * class 1
 * U.S. Senator
 * Legislative
 * Washington
 * March 4, 1833
 * June 16, 1836
 * class 1
 * class 1
 * U.S. Senator
 * Legislative
 * Washington
 * March 4, 1833
 * June 16, 1836
 * class 1
 * June 16, 1836
 * class 1

Election results
{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center" !Year !Office ! !Subject !Party !Votes !% ! !Opponent !Party !Votes !%
 * -bgcolor=#cccccc
 * 1832
 * Governor
 * |Arnold Naudain
 * |Whig
 * |4,166
 * |50%
 * |Caleb P. Bennett
 * |Democratic
 * |4,220
 * |50%
 * |Democratic
 * |4,220
 * |50%

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