Harry Alden Richardson (January 1, 1853 – June 16, 1928) was an American businessman and politician from Dover, in Kent County, Delaware. He was a member of the Republican Party, and was U.S. Senator from Delaware.
Early life and family Richardson was born in Camden, Delaware, the son of Alden B. Richardson and Lucy R. Richardson. His family moved to Dover, Delaware when he was a small child in 1858. He attended the common schools there and the Kent Academy in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. In 1876 he married Priscilla Walker. Both he and Walker were members of the Baptist Church.
Professional and political career Richardson worked in his father's canning and packing business in Dover, eventually becoming a partner and assuming control in 1894. He continued in this business throughout his life, was President of the First National Bank of Dover, and was also interested in various public-service corporations.
In his first attempt at public office, he ran for the office of Governor of Delaware in 1890, but lost to Democrat Robert J. Reynolds. Then, many years later, in 1907, he was elected to the U.S. Senate. During this term, he served with the Republican majority in the 60th, 61st, and 62nd U.S. Congress. In the 61st Congress, he was Chairman of the Committee to Examine Branches of the Civil Service, and in the 62nd Congress he was Chairman of the Committee on Pacific Islands and Puerto Rico, and a member of the Committee on Printing. He did not seek reelection in 1913, and in all, served from March 4, 1907, to March 4, 1913, during the administrations of U.S. Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William H. Taft.
Death and legacy Richardson died in Dover, and is now buried there in the Lakeside Methodist Episcopal Cemetery.
Ancestry Richardson is a direct descendant of Major General Humphrey Atherton.
Almanac The General Assembly chose the U.S. Senators, who took office March 4 for a six-year term.
Public Offices Office Type Location Began office Ended office notesState SenatorLegislatureDoverJanuary 4, 1888January 3, 1889U.S. SenatorLegislatureWashingtonMarch 4, 1907March 3, 1913
United States Congressional service Dates Congress Chamber Majority President Committees Class/District1907–190960thSenateRepublicanTheodore Rooseveltclass 2 1909–191161stSenateRepublicanWilliam Howard Taftclass 2 1911–191362ndSenateRepublicanWilliam Howard Taftclass 2
Election resultsYearOfficeSubjectPartyVotes%OpponentPartyVotes%1890GovernorHarry A. RichardsonRepublican17,25849%Robert J. ReynoldsDemocratic17,80151%
Biography
Images Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress
External links Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress Delaware’s Members of Congress
The Political Graveyard
References