William Gustavus Whiteley (August 7, 1819 – April 23, 1886) was an American lawyer and politician from Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly and as U.S. Representative from Delaware, Mayor of Wilmington, and Associate Judge of the Superior Court of Delaware.
Early life and family Whiteley was born near Newark, Delaware, to Henry and Catherine Whiteley.
William attended Bullock's School at Wilmington and graduated from Princeton College in 1838. He studied law under James A. Bayard Jr., was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1841, and began a practice in Wilmington.
Professional and political career He was the prothonotary of New Castle County from 1852 to 1856.
Congress He was elected as a Democrat to the 35th and 36th Congresses, serving from March 4, 1857, to March 3, 1861. While in Congress he was chairman of the Committee on Agriculture in the 35th Congress. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1860.
Later career He resumed his occupation as prothonotary of New Castle County from 1862 to 1867.
Whiteley was mayor of Wilmington from 1875 to 1878 and was a member of a commission to settle fishery disputes between New Jersey and Delaware in 1877. He was census enumerator for Delaware in 1880, and was appointed as associate judge of the Delaware Superior Court from March 31, 1884, until his death.
Death and burial Whiteley died at Wilmington and is buried in the Old Broad Street Presbyterian Church Cemetery at Bridgeton, New Jersey.
Almanac Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. U.S. Representatives took office March 4 and have a two-year term.
+ Public offices Office Type Location Began office Ended office Notes U.S. Representative Legislature Washington March 4, 1857 March 3, 1861 Mayor of WilmingtonExecutiveWilmington18751878Associate JusticeJudiciary Dover March 31, 1884 April 23, 1886Superior Court
+ United States Congressional service Dates Congress Chamber Majority President Committees Class/District1857–185935thU.S. HouseDemocraticJames Buchananat-large1859–186136thU.S. HouseDemocraticJames Buchananat-large
+ Election results Year Office Subject Party votes % Opponent Party votes %1856U.S. Representative William G. Whiteley Democratic 8,111 56% Elisha D. Cullen American 6,360 44%1858U.S. Representative William G. Whiteley Democratic 7,868 51% William R. Morris American 7,452 49%
References
Places with more information Delaware Historical Society; website ; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; (302) 655-7161. University of Delaware; Library website; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; (302) 831-2965.
Notes
External links Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Delaware’s Members of Congress
The Political Graveyard