This is a list of the sessions of the Delaware General Assembly showing majority parties and leadership for each body and each session. Also included are the corresponding Governors and Lieutenant Governors where applicable. Delaware was one of the 13 colonies of Great Britain that joined the American War of Independence. The General Assembly was formed at that time and has met since then under four state constitutions as indicated.
Constitution of 1776 Under the Delaware Constitution of 1776 the General Assembly consisted of The Legislative Council and the House of Assembly. There were nine members of the Council, three from each county, and twenty-one members of the Assembly, seven from each county. All members were elected "at-large" from a multi-member district that included their entire county. Elections were held the first day of October, and terms began on the 20th day of October, lasting three years for the Council and one year for the House. Approximately one third of the Senate was elected every year. Sessions were generally held several times every year.
Delaware General Assembly 1776–1792 YearAssemblyPresidentCouncil majoritySpeakerHouse majoritySpeaker1776/771stJohn McKinlyThomas McKean No partiesGeorge ReadNo partiesJohn McKinly1777/782ndGeorge ReadCaesar RodneyGeorge ReadSamuel West1778/793rdCaesar RodneyThomas CollinsSamuel West1779/804thCaesar RodneyJohn ClowesSimon Kollock1780/815thCaesar RodneyThomas CollinsBenjamin Caton1781/826thCaesar RodneyJohn DickinsonThomas CollinsSimon Kollock1782/837thJohn CookNicholas Van DykeJohn CookNicholas Van Dyke1783/848thNicholas Van DykeCaesar RodneyRobert Bryan1784/859thNicholas Van DykeThomas McDonoughThomas Duff1785/8610thNicholas Van DykeThomas McDonoughThomas Duff1786/8711thThomas CollinsGeorge CraigheadJohn Cook1787/8812thThomas CollinsThomas McDonoughThomas Rodney1788/8913thThomas CollinsJehu DavisJoshua ClaytonGeorge MitchellJehu Davis1789/9014thJoshua ClaytonGeorge MitchellJehu Davis1790/9115thJoshua ClaytonGeorge MitchellHenry Latimer1791/9216thJoshua ClaytonGeorge MitchellAllan McLane
Constitution of 1792 Under the Delaware Constitution of 1792 the General Assembly consisted of the Senate and the House of Representatives. There were nine members of the Senate, three from each county, and twenty-one members of the House of Representatives, seven from each county. All members were elected "at-large" from a multi-member district that included their entire county. Elections were held the first Tuesday of October and terms began on the first Tuesday in January, lasting three years for the Senate and one year for the House. Approximately one third of the Senate was elected every year. Sessions were generally held once every year.
Delaware General Assembly 1793–1832 YearAssemblyGovernorSenate majoritySpeakerHouse majoritySpeaker179317thJoshua ClaytonFederalistDaniel RogersFederalistGeorge WilsonStephen Lewis179418thJoshua ClaytonDaniel RogersStephen Lewis179519thJoshua ClaytonDaniel RogersPeter Lowber179620thGunning Bedford Sr.Daniel RogersStephen Lewis179721stGunning Bedford Sr.Daniel RogersDaniel RogersStephen Lewis179822ndDaniel RogersIsaac DavisStephen Lewis179923rdRichard BassettIsaac DavisStephen Lewis180024thRichard BassettJames SykesStephen Lewis180125thRichard BassettJames SykesJames SykesStephen Lewis180226thDavid HallDaniel RogersStephen Lewis180327thDavid HallJames SykesStephen Lewis180428thDavid HallJames SykesJesse Green180529thNathaniel MitchellJames SykesThomas Laws180630thNathaniel MitchellJames SykesJesse Green180731stNathaniel MitchellJames SykesWilliam Warner180832ndGeorge TruittJames SykesStephen Lewis180933rdGeorge TruittJames SykesStephen Lewis181034thGeorge TruittJames SykesStephen Lewis181135thJoseph HasletJames SykesCornelius P. Comegys181236thJoseph HasletJames SykesCornelius P. Comegys181337thJoseph HasletAndrew BarrattCornelius P. Comegys181438thDaniel RodneyAndrew BarrattCornelius P. Comegys181539thDaniel RodneyJesse GreenCornelius P. Comegys181640thDaniel RodneyJesse GreenNathan Vickers181741stJohn ClarkHenry MollestonNathan Vickers181842ndJohn ClarkHenry MollestonNathan Vickers181943rdJohn ClarkHenry MollestonNathan Vickers182044thJacob StoutJacob StoutNathan Vickers182145thJohn CollinsCaleb RodneyJohn Cummins182246thJohn CollinsCaleb RodneyCaleb RodneyAlrichs Ryland182347thJoseph HasletCharles ThomasDemocratic-RepublicanCharles ThomasDemocratic-RepublicanGeorge Clark Jr.182448thSamuel PaynterFederalistJesse GreenFederalistJoshua Burton182549thSamuel PaynterJesse GreenJoshua Burton182650thSamuel PaynterCharles Polk Jr.Arnold Naudain182751stCharles Polk Jr.Henry WhiteleyArchibald Hamilton182852ndCharles Polk Jr.Presley SpruanceWilliam W. Morris182953rdCharles Polk Jr.Presley SpruanceWilliam W. MorrisJohn Raymond183054thDavid HazzardNational RepublicanPresley SpruanceNational RepublicanJoshua Burton183155thDavid HazzardPresley SpruanceJoshua Burton183256thDavid HazzardJames P. LoflandThomas Davis
Constitution of 1831 Under the Delaware Constitution of 1831 the General Assembly consisted of the Senate and the House of Representatives. There were nine members of the Senate, three from each county, and twenty-one members of the House of Representatives, seven from each county. All members were elected "at-large" from a multi-member district that included their entire county. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began on the first Tuesday in January, lasting four years for the Senate and two years for the House. Approximately half of the Senate was elected every two years. Sessions were generally held once every two years, in the odd numbered year.
Delaware General Assembly 1832–1898 YearAssemblyGovernorSenate majoritySpeakerHouse majoritySpeaker1833–183557thCaleb BennettWhigJoshua BurtonWhigJohn Raymond1835–183758thCaleb BennettCharles Polk Jr.Charles Polk Jr.William D. Waples1837–183959thCornelius P. ComegysPresley SpruanceWilliam D. Waples1839–184160thCornelius P. ComegysDemocraticThomas JacobsDemocraticJohn P. Brinckloe1841–184361stWilliam B. CooperWhigCharles Polk Jr.WhigRobert Houston1843–184562ndWilliam B. CooperPresley SpruanceWilliam O. Redden1845–184763rdThomas StocktonJoseph MaullWilliam TempleJoseph MaullWilliam TempleWilliam O. Redden1847–184964thWilliam TharpWilliam W. MorrisLewis Thompson1849–185165thWilliam TharpWilliam W. MorrisDaniel Cummins1851–185366thWilliam H. H. RossDemocraticJohn M. PhillipsDemocraticSamuel Jefferson1853–185567thWilliam H. H. RossJohn M. PhillipsJohn R. McFee1855–185768thPeter F. CauseyKnow-nothingDaniel CurryKnow-nothingSamuel Biddle1857–185969thPeter F. CauseyDemocraticAbraham BoyceDemocraticGeorge W. Cummins1859–186170thWilliam BurtonManlove CarlisleJohn W. F. Jackson1861–186371stWilliam BurtonJohn GreenRepublicanJohn F. Williamson1863–186572ndWilliam CannonJohn R. TatumDemocraticJohn Sorden1865–186773rdWilliam CannonGove SaulsburyGove SaulsburyWilliam HitchShephard P. Houston1867–186974thGove SaulsburyJames PonderWilliam A. Polk1869–187175thGove SaulsburyJames W. MinorsJohn Hickman1871–187376thJames PonderCharles GoodingSewell C. Biggs1873–187577thJames PonderAllen V. LeslieJoseph Burchenal1875–187778thJohn P. CochranCharles C. StockleyThomas Holcomb1877–187979thJohn P. CochranJohn T. MooreHugh Martin1879–188180thJohn W. HallCharles J. HarringtonSwithin Chandler1881–188381stJohn W. HallCateby F. RustReynear Williams1883–188582ndCharles C. StockleySamuel B. CooperGeorge H. Bates1885–188783rdCharles C. StockleyAlexander B. CooperWilliam A. Comegys1887–188984thBenjamin T. BiggsJohn E. CollinsWilliam R. McCabe1889–189185thBenjamin T. BiggsBeniah L. LewisRepublicanJohn H. Hoffecker1891–189386thRobert J. ReynoldsJohn P. DonohoeDemocraticWilliam L. Sirman1893–189587thRobert J. ReynoldsCharles B. HoustonJ. Harvey Whiteman1895–189788thJoshua H. MarvilWilliam T. WatsonWilliam T. WatsonRepublicanHenry H. McMullen1897–189989thEbe W. TunnellHezekiah HarringtonDemocraticEmory B. Riggin
Constitution of 1897 Under the original Delaware Constitution of 1897 the General Assembly consisted of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms begin on the second Tuesday in January, lasting four years for the Senate and two years for the House. Approximately half of the Senate was elected every two years. Sessions were generally held once every year, lasting no longer than June 30.
Prior to 1965, there were seventeen members of the Senate, seven from New Castle County and five each from Kent and Sussex County. There were thirty-five members of the House of Representatives, fifteen from New Castle County and ten each from Kent and Sussex County. All members were elected from single member districts.
Delaware General Assembly 1899–1964 YearAssemblyGovernorLt. GovernorSenate majorityPresidentpro temporeHouse majoritySpeaker1899–190090thEbe W. TunnellNoneDemocraticCharles M. SalmonRepublicanTheodore F. Clark1901–190291stJohn HunnPhilip L. CannonRepublicanHenry C. EllisonJames V. McCommons1903–190492ndJohn HunnPhilip L. CannonHenry C. EllisonHenry S. Anthony1905–190693rdPreston LeaIsaac T. ParkerAlvin B. ConnerWilliam D. Denney1907–190894thPreston LeaIsaac T. ParkerGeorge W. SparksRichard Hodgson1909–191095thSimeon S. PennewillJohn M. MendinhallGeorge W. SparksDemocraticThomas O. Cooper1911–191296thSimeon S. PennewillJohn M. MendinhallDemocraticThomas M. MonaghanRepublicanDenward W. Campbell1913–191497thCharles R. MillerColen FergusonRepublicanGeorge W. MarshallChauncey P. Holcomb1915–191698thCharles R. MillerColen FergusonJohn M. WalkerCharles H. Grantland1917–191899thJohn G. Townsend Jr.Lewis T. EliasonJohn A. BarnardDemocraticHervey P. Hall1919–1920100thJohn G. Townsend Jr.Lewis T. EliasonIsaac D. ShortRepublicanAlexander P. Corbit1921–1922101stWilliam D. DenneyJ. Danforth BushWallace S. HandyDemocraticWalter J. Paskey Sr.1923–1924102ndWilliam D. DenneyJ. Danforth BushDemocraticCharles D. MurphySamuel N. Culver1925–1926103rdRobert P. RobinsonJames H. AndersonWilliam C. TruittRepublicanHenry C. Downward1927–1928104thRobert P. RobinsonJames H. AndersonWilliam F. AllenWilliam Wintrup1929–1930105thC. Douglass BuckJames H. HazelRepublicanWilliam A. SimontonCharles W. Messick1931–1932106thC. Douglass BuckJames H. HazelWilliam A. SimontonBud Coy1933–1934107thC. Douglass BuckRoy F. CorleyWilliam A. SimontonDemocraticJulian T. Robinson1935–1936108thC. Douglass BuckRoy F. CorleyLevi G. MaloneyRepublicanHarry V. Lyons1937–1938109thRichard C. McMullenEdward W. CoochWilliam A. SimontonDemocraticJohn R. Fader1939–1940110thRichard C. McMullenEdward W. CoochDavid W. SteeleRepublicanFrank R. Zebley1941–1942111thWalter W. BaconIsaac J. MacCollumHarold W. T. PurnellGeorge W. Rhodes1943–1944112thWalter W. BaconIsaac J. MacCollumClayton A. BuntingBenjamin F. Johnson1945–1946113thWalter W. BaconElbert N. CarvelHarry H. MulhollandChester V. Townsend Jr.1947–1948114thWalter W. BaconElbert N. CarvelGeorge W. RhodesWilliam T. Chipman1949–1950115thElbert N. CarvelAlexis I. du Pont BayardDemocraticVera G. DavisHarvey H. Lawson1951–1952116thElbert N. CarvelAlexis I. du Pont BayardRoy A. CannonHarvey H. Lawson1953–1954117thJ. Caleb BoggsJohn W. RollinsRepublicanThomas L. JohnsonFrank A. Jones1955–1956118thJ. Caleb BoggsJohn W. RollinsDemocraticCharles G. MooreDemocraticJames R. Quigley1957–1958119thJ. Caleb BoggsDavid P. BucksonLemuel HickmanHarry E. Mayhew1959–1960120thJ. Caleb BoggsDavid P. BucksonAllen J. CookSherman W. Tribbitt1961–1962121stElbert N. CarvelEugene LammotJohn B. ReillySherman W. Tribbitt1963–1964122ndElbert N. CarvelEugene LammotCurtis W. SteenSherman W. Tribbitt
Amended Constitution of 1897