Joshua Clayton

Dr. Joshua Clayton (July 20 1744 – August 11 1798) was an American physician and politician from Mt. Pleasant in Pencader Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware. He was an officer of the Continental Army in the American Revolution, and a member of the Federalist Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly, as Governor of Delaware and as U.S. Senator from Delaware.

Early life and family
Clayton was born July 20 1744 near Wyoming, Delaware, son of John Clayton & Eleanor Edinfield. John Clayton was a miller, and the grandson of another Joshua Clayton, a Quaker, who came from Lincolnshire, England in the late 17th century. The younger Joshua Clayton went to medical school at, what is now, the University of Pennsylvania from 1757 until 1762, and then began a medical practice in Middletown, Delaware. He became close friends with Richard Bassett, and in 1765, married his adopted daughter, Rachael McCleary.

They acquired a portion of Richard Bassett's Bohemia Manor estate, and in 1773 built their home, Locust Grove. It is now known as the Dickey Farm, and is on the Choptank Road, two miles west of Mt. Pleasant to the northwest of Middletown. There they had three children who lived to adulthood, Richard, James Lawson and Thomas. Their religious affiliation is unclear, but they were almost certainly members of the Bethel Methodist Church by the time of their deaths.

American Revolution
During the American Revolution Clayton served in the Bohemia Manor militia, where he had been commissioned a major. He was also an aide and surgeon to General George Washington at the Battle of Brandywine and Valley Forge.

Political career
Following this Clayton served in the State House, or House of Assembly, in the 1778/79 session, and from the 1780/81 session through the 1783/84 session. He was back again in the 1785/86 session, and returned to the House of Assembly for the 1787/88 session. He was chosen President of Delaware by the Delaware General Assembly on May 30 1789, and served as President until January 15 1793. Under the provisions of the new Delaware Constitution of 1792, he ran for, and was elected, the first popularly elected Governor of Delaware, and continued to serve in that capacity until his term ended, January 19 1796.

A New Constitution
This new Constitution was the major political event of these years. With the new U.S. Constitution in place, it was necessary to revise the somewhat experimental Delaware Constitution of 1776. Under the initial leadership of John Dickinson, delegates provided for a real Governor, by having the office chosen by popular vote and by eliminating the Privy Council. The other major change was to expand the voting franchise by eliminating the property ownership requirement.

A New State House
A good story from Clayton's tenure concerned the building of a new courthouse in Kent County in 1792. Since the General Assembly had moved from New Castle in 1777, it had shared the county courthouse with the county officials. They wished to continue to do so in the new building. The county commissioners responsible for erecting the building agreed, but asked for "an appropriation for the completion of the building." In response, on June 2 1788, a committee of the General Assembly reported that "in their opinion such is the situation of the treasury, together with loud complaints of public creditors and their duty to constituents, that the prayer of the memorial cannot be complied with at this time."

A few days later, though, "all moneys arising from marriage and tavern licenses were appropriated to completing the court-house," and "on July 29 1791, a bill introduced by Kensey Johns was passed providing for a lottery to raise one thousand pounds for furnishing the court-house."

However, when the building was nearly complete, and being occupied by the General Assembly...
 * "on May 3 1792, it is said that Sheriff John Clayton, by order of the Levy Court, entered the Assembly rooms with drawn sword, and demanded their use for the workmen. The General Assembly there-upon adjourned to the tavern of Thomas Hale, at Duck Creek Cross-Roads (now Smyrna), and continued their session.”

The next day, the State House or House of Assembly adopted the following resolution:
 * "Whereas, John Clayton, who declared he spoke the sentiments of the people of Kent County, hath, as one of the Commissioners for completing the Court-House in Dover, insulted the Legislature of this State by denying them the use of the chambers heretofore occupied by the General Assembly for holding their sessions, requiring them to be delivered up for the use of workmen employed about the building, in consequences of which both houses have adjourned the sessions to Duck Creek Cross-Roads; therefore, "Resolved unanimously, That in the opinion of this General Assembly the Legislature of the State ought not to be subject to the caprice of any individual in the State, and that it will not be proper for them to hold their sessions in the town of Dover until the Levy Court of Kent County, or some other proper authority shall, by an explicit act, appropriate to their use the Chambers in the said Court-House agreeable to the intention heretofore expressed."

"The State Senate failed to concur in the resolution, and pending further action the difficulty was reconciled, and beginning with the next session, November, 1792, the General Assembly occupied the State-House, and have continued to the present time (1888)."

United States Senate
Two years after his term ended, Clayton was chosen by the Delaware General Assembly to fill the vacant seat in the United States Senate caused by the resignation of U.S. Senator John M. Vining. He began his term January 19 1798 and served until his death on August 11 1798, which occurred while attending meetings of the United States Congress in Philadelphia. During this term, he served in the Federalist majority in the 5th Congress, during the administration of U.S. President John Adams.

Death and legacy
Clayton died August 11 1798 at Mt. Pleasant in New Castle County, Delaware after being stricken with yellow fever while at the United States Congress in Philadelphia. He was first buried at "Locust Grove" in Pencader Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware. Later his remains were moved to Bethel Church Cemetery, Chesapeake City, Maryland, where they were moved again in 1965 with a widening of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.

Clayton's son, Thomas Clayton was a U.S. Senator, and his nephew, John M. Clayton was also a U.S. Senator as well as U.S. Secretary of State.

Public offices
Elections were held October 1st and members of the General Assembly took office on October 20th, or the following weekday. Assemblymen had a one year term. The General Assembly chose the State President for a three year term. They also chose the U.S. Senators, who took office March 3rd, for a six year term.

Beginning in 1792, elections were held on the first Tuesday of October and members of the General Assembly took office on the first Tuesday of January. Also in 1792 the Legislative Council was renamed the State Senate and the House of Assembly, the State House. The State President became the Governor, was popularly elected, takes office the third Tuesday in January, and had a three year term.

{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center" ! Office ! Type ! Location ! Elected ! Took Office ! Left Office ! notes ! notes
 * -bgcolor=#cccccc
 * Assemblyman
 * Legislature
 * Dover
 * 1778
 * October 20 1778
 * October 20 1779
 * Assemblyman
 * Legislature
 * Dover
 * 1780
 * October 20 1780
 * October 20 1781
 * Assemblyman
 * Legislature
 * Dover
 * 1781
 * October 20 1781
 * October 21 1782
 * Assemblyman
 * Legislature
 * Dover
 * 1782
 * October 21 1782
 * October 20 1783
 * Assemblyman
 * Legislature
 * Dover
 * 1783
 * October 20 1783
 * October 20 1784
 * Assemblyman
 * Legislature
 * Dover
 * 1785
 * October 20 1785
 * October 20 1786
 * Assemblyman
 * Legislature
 * Dover
 * 1786
 * October 20 1786
 * October 20 1787
 * Assemblyman
 * Legislature
 * Dover
 * 1787
 * October 20 1787
 * October 20 1788
 * State President
 * Executive
 * Dover
 * May 30 1789
 * January 15 1793
 * Governor
 * Executive
 * Dover
 * 1792
 * January 15 1793
 * January 13 1796
 * U.S. Senator
 * Legislature
 * Philadelphia
 * January 19 1798
 * August 11 1798
 * class 2
 * died in office
 * Dover
 * 1787
 * October 20 1787
 * October 20 1788
 * State President
 * Executive
 * Dover
 * May 30 1789
 * January 15 1793
 * Governor
 * Executive
 * Dover
 * 1792
 * January 15 1793
 * January 13 1796
 * U.S. Senator
 * Legislature
 * Philadelphia
 * January 19 1798
 * August 11 1798
 * class 2
 * died in office
 * U.S. Senator
 * Legislature
 * Philadelphia
 * January 19 1798
 * August 11 1798
 * class 2
 * died in office
 * January 19 1798
 * August 11 1798
 * class 2
 * died in office

Election results
{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center" !Year !Office ! !Subject !Party !Votes !% ! !Opponent !Party !Votes !%
 * -bgcolor=#cccccc
 * 1792
 * Governor
 * |Joshua Clayton
 * |Federalist
 * |2,209
 * |48%
 * |Thomas Montgomery George Mitchell
 * |Democratic-Republican Independent Federalist
 * |1,902 458
 * |42% 10%
 * |Democratic-Republican Independent Federalist
 * |1,902 458
 * |42% 10%

Images

 * Hall of Governors Portrait Gallery 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

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