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{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox_Politician
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
| name = Willard Saulsbury, Sr.
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = SaulsburyWillardSr.jpg
| honorific-prefix =
| caption = '''U.S. Senator from Delaware'''
| name = Willard Saulsbury Sr.
| birth_date = [[June 2]], [[1820]]
| honorific-suffix =
| birth_place = [[Kent County, Delaware|Kent County]], [[Delaware]]
| image = Willard Saulsbury, Sr. - Brady-Handy.jpg
| residence = [[Georgetown, Delaware|Georgetown]], [[Delaware]]
| imagesize =
| death_date = [[April 6]], [[1892]]
| smallimage =
| death_place = [[Dover, Delaware|Dover]], [[Delaware]]
| office = [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] ([[1859]]–[[1871]])
| office = [[Delaware Court of Chancery|Chancellor of Delaware]]
| term_start = November 14, 1873
| salary =
| term_end = April 6, 1892
| term =
| predecessor =
| predecessor = Daniel M. Bates
| successor =
| successor = James L. Wolcott
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| office2 = [[United States Senate|United States Senator]]<br/>from [[Delaware]]
| term_start2 = March 4, 1859
| religion = [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America|Episcopalian]]
| term_end2 = March 3, 1871
| spouse =
| predecessor2 = [[Martin W. Bates]]
| children =
| successor2 = [[Eli Saulsbury]]
| website =
| office3 = 10th [[Attorney General of Delaware]]
| footnotes =
| term_start3 = 1850
| term_end3 = 1855
| governor3 = [[William Tharp]]<br>[[William H. H. Ross]]
| preceded3 = [[Edward W. Gilpin]]
| succeeded3 = [[George P. Fisher]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1820|6|2}}
| birth_place = [[Kent County, Delaware]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1892|4|6|1820|6|2}}
| death_place = [[Dover, Delaware]]
| spouse = Annie Ponder
| children = 3, including [[Willard Saulsbury Jr.|Willard Jr.]]
| relations = [[Eli Saulsbury]] (brother)<br />[[Gove Saulsbury]] (brother)
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| residence = [[Georgetown, Delaware]]
| alma_mater = [[University of Delaware|Delaware College]]
| occupation =
| profession = Lawyer
}}
}}


'''Willard Saulsbury, Sr.''' ([[June 2]], [[1820]] &ndash; [[April 6]], [[1892]]) was a [[lawyer]] and [[politician]] from [[Georgetown, Delaware|Georgetown]], in [[Sussex County, Delaware|Sussex County]], [[Delaware]]. He was a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], who served as [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator from Delaware]].
'''Willard Saulsbury Sr.''' (June 2, 1820 – April 6, 1892) was an American lawyer and politician from [[Georgetown, Delaware]]. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served as [[Attorney General of Delaware]], U.S. Senator from Delaware and Chancellor of Court of Chancery of Delaware.


==Early life and family==
==Early life and family==
Saulsbury was born in Mispillion Hundred, [[Kent County, Delaware]], son of William & Margaret Ann Smith Saulsbury. He was a younger brother of Governor [[Gove Saulsbury]] and U.S. Senator [[Eli Saulsbury]]. He married Annie Ponder, sister of Governor [[James Ponder]], and they had three children, John Ponder, Margaret, and [[Willard Saulsbury Jr.|Willard Jr.]] They were members of the Episcopal Church. Saulsbury was educated at [[Dickinson College]] and Delaware College, which is now the [[University of Delaware]], studied law, was admitted to the Delaware Bar, and began his practice in Georgetown, Delaware. He was a [[Slavery in the United States|slaveholder]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Weil |first1=Julie Zauzmer |last2=Blanco |first2=Adrian |last3=Dominguez |first3=Leo |title=More than 1,800 congressmen once enslaved Black people. This is who they were, and how they shaped the nation. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/interactive/2022/congress-slaveowners-names-list/ |access-date=2023-04-26 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en}} </ref>

Saulsbury was born [[June 2]], [[1820]] in [[Mispillion Hundred]], [[Kent County, Delaware|Kent County]], [[Delaware]], son of William & Margaret Ann Smith Saulsbury. He was a younger brother of [[Governor of Delaware|Governor]] [[Gove Saulsbury]] and [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] [[Eli M. Saulsbury]]. He married Annie Ponder, sister of [[Governor of Delaware|Governor]] [[James Ponder]], and they had three children, John Ponder, Margaret, and [[Willard Saulsbury Jr.|Willard Jr.]]. They were members of the [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America|Episcopal Church]]. Saulsbury was educated at [[Dickinson College]] and Delaware College, which is now the [[University of Delaware]], studied law, was admitted to the [[Delaware]] [[bar (law)|Bar]], and began his practice in [[Georgetown, Delaware|Georgetown]], [[Delaware]].


==Political career==
==Political career==
Saulsbury was the Attorney General of [[Delaware]] from [[1850]] until [[1855]], and was elected to the [[United States Senate]] in [[1858]], defeating incumbent [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] [[Martin W. Bates]]. Saulsbury was reelected in [[1864]], but was defeated for a third term in [[1870]] by his older brother, [[Eli Saulsbury]]. He served two full terms from [[March 4]], [[1859]], to [[March 3]], [[1871]]. He then continued his law practice and served as Chancellor of [[Delaware]] from [[1874]] until his death in [[1892]].
Saulsbury was the [[Delaware Attorney General]] from 1850 until 1855, and was elected to the United States Senate in 1858, defeating incumbent U.S. Senator Martin W. Bates. Saulsbury was reelected in 1864, but was defeated for a third term in 1870 by his older brother, Eli Saulsbury. He served two full terms from March 4, 1859, to March 4, 1871. He then continued his law practice and served as Chancellor of Delaware from 1873 until his death in 1892.

In 1863, Saulsbury was a vehement critic of President Abraham Lincoln's administration. Opposing the war in general and the suspension of habeas corpus specifically, Saulsbury attempted to prevent a vote sustaining that controversial executive order. Apparently intoxicated, Saulsbury verbally attacked the President on the Senate floor in what [[John Hay]] described as "language fit only for a drunken fishwife". Senator Saulsbury called Lincoln "an imbecile" and stated that the President was "the weakest man ever placed in a high office". When Vice President [[Hannibal Hamlin]] called Saulsbury to order, the Senator refused to take his seat. Finally, the Senate's sergeant-at-arms approached to remove Saulsbury from the Senate floor when the Senator suddenly brandished a revolver, placed it against the sergeant's head and said, "Damn you, if you touch me I'll shoot you dead!" Eventually, Saulsbury was calmed and removed from the Senate floor.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Senate Historical Office |date=January 17, 1871 |title=The Battle of Three Brothers |url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/The_battle_of_three_brothers.htm |access-date=November 10, 2012}})</ref>


==Death and legacy==
==Death and legacy==
Saulsbury died [[April 6]], [[1892]] in [[Dover, Delaware|Dover]], [[Delaware]], and is buried in the Christ [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America|Episcopal]] Churchyard in [[Dover, Delaware|Dover]]. His son, [[Willard Saulsbury, Jr.]] was also a [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]].
Saulsbury died at Dover and is buried there in the Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery. His son [[Willard Saulsbury Jr.]] was also a U.S. Senator.


==Almanac==
{{start box}}
The General Assembly chose the U.S. Senators, who took office March 4 for a six-year term.
{{succession box
| before=[[Martin W. Bates]]
| title=[[United States Senate|U. S. Senator from Delaware<br>(class 2)]]
| years=[[1859]]&ndash;[[1871]]
| after=[[Eli M. Saulsbury]]}}
{{end box}}


{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
==Public offices==
|-bgcolor=#cccccc
The [[Delaware General Assembly|General Assembly]] chose the [[United States Senators|U.S. Senators]], who took office the first week of March, and served for a six year term.
!colspan=7 style="background: #ccccff;" |Public offices
|-
! '''Office'''
! '''Type'''
! '''Location'''
! '''Began office'''
! '''Ended office'''
! '''Notes'''
|-{{Party shading/Anti-Jacksonian}}
|[[Delaware Attorney General|Attorney General]]
|[[Executive (government)|Executive]]
|[[Dover, Delaware|Dover]]
|1850
|1855
|[[Delaware]]
|-{{Party shading/Anti-Masonic}}
|[[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]]
|[[Legislature]]
|[[Washington, D.C.|Washington]]
|March 4, 1859
|March 3, 1865
|
|-{{Party shading/Anti-Masonic}}
|[[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]]
|[[Legislature]]
|[[Washington, D.C.|Washington]]
|March 4, 1865
|March 3, 1871
|
|-{{Party shading/Anti-Jacksonian}}
|[[Delaware Court of Chancery|Chancellor]]
|[[Judiciary]]
|[[Dover, Delaware|Dover]]
|November 14, 1873
|April 6, 1892
|[[Delaware Court of Chancery|State Chancery Court]]
|}


{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
{{start box}}
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Office'''
|-bgcolor=#cccccc
!colspan=7 style="background: #ccccff;" |United States congressional service
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Type'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Location'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Elected'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Took Office'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Left Office'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''notes'''
|-
|-
! '''Dates'''
| bgcolor=#EEEEAA | [[Attorney General]]
! '''Congress'''
| bgcolor=#EEEEAA | [[Executive (government)|Executive]]
! '''Chamber'''
| bgcolor=#EEEEAA | [[Dover, Delaware|Dover]]
! '''Majority'''
| bgcolor=#EEEEAA |
! '''President'''
| bgcolor=#EEEEAA | [[1850]]
! '''Committees'''
| bgcolor=#EEEEAA | [[1855]]
! '''Class/District'''
| bgcolor=#EEEEAA | [[Delaware]]
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|-
|1859–1861
| bgcolor=#FFFFAA | [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]]
|[[36th United States Congress|36th]]
| bgcolor=#FFFFAA | [[Legislature]]
|[[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]]
| bgcolor=#FFFFAA | [[Washington, DC|Washington]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| bgcolor=#FFFFAA |
|[[James Buchanan]]
| bgcolor=#FFFFAA | [[March 4]], [[1859]]
|
| bgcolor=#FFFFAA | [[March 3]], [[1865]]
|[[Classes of United States Senators|''class 2'']]
| bgcolor=#FFFFAA |
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|-
|1861–1863
| bgcolor=#FFFFAA | [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]]
|[[37th United States Congress|37th]]
| bgcolor=#FFFFAA | [[Legislature]]
|[[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]]
| bgcolor=#FFFFAA | [[Washington, DC|Washington]]
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| bgcolor=#FFFFAA |
|[[Abraham Lincoln]]
| bgcolor=#FFFFAA | [[March 4]], [[1865]]
|
| bgcolor=#FFFFAA | [[March 3]], [[1871]]
|[[Classes of United States Senators|''class 2'']]
| bgcolor=#FFFFAA |
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|-
|1863–1865
| bgcolor=#EEEEAA | [[Chancellor]]
|[[38th United States Congress|38th]]
| bgcolor=#EEEEAA | [[Judiciary]]
|[[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]]
| bgcolor=#EEEEAA | [[Dover, Delaware|Dover]]
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| bgcolor=#EEEEAA |
|[[Abraham Lincoln]]
| bgcolor=#EEEEAA | [[1874]]
|
| bgcolor=#EEEEAA | [[1892]]
|[[Classes of United States Senators|''class 2'']]
| bgcolor=#EEEEAA | [[Delaware]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
{{end box}}
|1865–1867
|[[39th United States Congress|39th]]
|[[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]]
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|[[Abraham Lincoln]]<br/>[[Andrew Johnson]]
|
|[[Classes of United States Senators|''class 2'']]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|1867–1869
|[[40th United States Congress|40th]]
|[[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]]
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|[[Andrew Johnson]]
|
|[[Classes of United States Senators|''class 2'']]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|1869–1871
|[[41st United States Congress|41st]]
|[[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]]
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|[[Ulysses S. Grant]]
|
|[[Classes of United States Senators|''class 2'']]
|}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
*{{cite book | author=Hoffecker, Carol E. | title=Democracy in Delaware | publisher=Cedar Tree Books, Wilmington | year=2004 | id=ISBN 1-892142-23-6 }}
*{{cite book | author=Munroe, John A. | title=History of Delaware | publisher=University of Delaware Press | year=1993 | id=ISBN 0-87413-493-5 }}
*{{cite book |author=Hoffecker, Carol E. |title=Democracy in Delaware |publisher=Cedar Tree Books, Wilmington |year=2004 |isbn=1-892142-23-6 }}
*{{cite book | author=Scharf, John Thomas. | title=History of Delaware 1609-1888. 2 vols. | publisher=L. J. Richards & Co., Philadelphia |year=1888 |id= }}
*{{cite book |author=Munroe, John A. |title=History of Delaware |publisher=University of Delaware Press |year=1993 |isbn=0-87413-493-5 }}
*{{cite book |title=History of Delaware 1609-1888. 2 vols. |last=Scharf |first=John Thomas |publisher=L. J. Richards & Co. |location=Philadelphia |year=1888 |isbn=0-87413-493-5}}
*Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress. [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000074 Willard Saulsbury, Sr].
*{{cite book |title=History of the State of Delaware, 3 vols. |last=Conrad |first=Henry C. |publisher=Wickersham Company |location=Lancaster, Pennsylvania |year=1908 }}
*Pickett, Russell S. [http://www.russpickett.com/history/sentbio.htm#sauls1 Delaware and U.S.History].


===Images===
==Images==
*Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress. [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000074 Willard Saulsbury, Sr].
*[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000074 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000074 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]
*Kestenbaum, Lawrence. [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/sarig-saunder.html#R9M0JBUYL The Political Graveyard].
*Find a Grave. [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=4362 Willard Saulsbury, Sr].
*[http://www.russpickett.com/history/sentbio.htm#sauls1 Delaware’s Members of Congress]
*{{Find a Grave|4362}}
*[http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/sarig-saunder.html#R9M0JBUYL The Political Graveyard]


==Places with more information==
==Places with more information==
*[[Delaware Historical Society]]; [http://www.hsd.org/ website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961231010053/http://hsd.org/ |date=1996-12-31 }}; 505 Market St, Wilmington, Delaware; (302) 655-7161.
*[http://www.lib.udel.edu/ University of Delaware Library] 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 831-2965.
*[http://www.co.new-castle.de.us/libraries/newark/library1.asp Newark Free Library] 750 Library Ave.,Newark Delaware (302) 731-7550.
*[[University of Delaware]]; [http://www.lib.udel.edu/ Library website]; 181 South College Ave, Newark, Delaware; (302) 831-2965.
*[http://www.corbitlibrary.org/ Corbit-Calloway Memorial Library] 2nd and High St. Odessa Delaware (302) 378-8838.
*[http://www.hsd.org/ Historical Society of Delaware] 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware (302) 655-7161.


{{s-start}}
{{s-legal}}
{{succession box | title=[[Attorney General of Delaware]] | before=[[Edward W. Gilpin]] | after=[[George P. Fisher]]
| years= 1850–1855 }}
{{s-par|us-sen}}
{{US Senator succession box
|state=Delaware|class=2
|before=[[Martin W. Bates]]
|years=March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1871
|alongside=[[James A. Bayard Jr.]], [[George R. Riddle]], [[James A. Bayard Jr.]], [[Thomas F. Bayard]]
|after=[[Eli Saulsbury]]}}
{{s-end}}


{{United States senators from Delaware|state=autocollapse}}
<center>
{{Authority control}}
{| class=toccolours style="margin: 0 2em 0 2em;" width=94% style="background:#F3D161"
| rowspan=2 | [[Image:Delaware state flag.png|120px|center|Flag of Delaware]]
! width=100% | <font size=3>[[Delaware|State of Delaware]]</font><br><small>[[List of counties in Delaware|Counties]] | [[List of Delaware Hundreds|Hundreds]] | [[List of Delaware Municipalities|Municipalities]] | [[List of Delaware rivers|Rivers]] | [[:Category:U.S. Highways in Delaware|Roads]] | [[:Category:Delaware railroads|Railroads]] | [[:Category:Companies based in Delaware|Business]]<br>[[:Category:Government of Delaware|Government]] | [[List of Governors of Delaware|Governors]] | [[:Category:Delaware General Assembly|General Assembly]] | [[:Category:Delaware law|Courts]] | [[List of United States Senators from Delaware|U.S. Senators]] | [[List of United States Representatives from Delaware|U.S. Representatives]] <br> [[History of Delaware|History]] | [[:Category:Education in Delaware|Education]] | [[:Category:Religion in Delaware|Religion]] | [[:Category:Delaware landmarks|Parks & Museums]] | [[:Category:Delaware media|Communications]]</small>
| rowspan=2 | [[Image:Delaware state flag.png|120px|center|Flag of Delaware]]
|}</center>

{| width=94% style="margin:0 2em" class=toccolours align=center
|-
! bgcolor=#F3D161 style="padding:0 50px 0 50px" | [[List of United States Senators from Delaware|United States Senators from Delaware]]
|-
| align=center class=small | [[J. Frank Allee|Allee]] | [[L. Heisler Ball|Ball]] | [[Richard Bassett|Bassett]] | [[Martin W. Bates|Bates]] | [[James A. Bayard (1767-1815)|J Bayard Sr]] | [[James A. Bayard (1799-1888)|J Bayard Jr]] | [[Richard H. Bayard|R Bayard]] | [[Thomas F. Bayard|T Bayard Sr]] | [[Thomas F. Bayard, Jr.|T Bayard Jr]] | [[Joe Biden|Biden]] | [[J. Caleb Boggs|Boggs]] | [[C. Douglass Buck|Buck]] | [[Thomas R. Carper|Carper]] | [[John M. Clayton|John Clayton]] | [[Joshua Clayton]] | [[Thomas Clayton|T Clayton]] | [[Joseph P. Comegys|Comegys]] | [[Henry A. du Pont|H du Pont]] | [[T. Coleman du Pont|TC du Pont]] | [[J. Allen Frear, Jr.|Frear]] | [[George Gray (1840-1925)|Gray]] | [[Daniel O. Hastings|Hastings]] | [[Anthony Higgins|Higgins]] | [[Outerbridge Horsey|Horsey]] | [[James H. Hughes|Hughes]] | [[Richard R. Kenney|Kenney]] | [[Henry Latimer (1752-1819)|Latimer]] | [[Louis McLane|McLane]] | [[Arnold Naudain|Naudain]] | [[George Read (1733-1798)|Read]] | [[Harry A. Richardson|Richardson]] | [[George R. Riddle|Riddle]] | [[Henry M. Ridgely|Ridgely]] | [[Caesar A. Rodney|C Rodney]] | [[Daniel Rodney|D Rodney]] | [[William V. Roth, Jr.|Roth]] | [[Eli M. Saulsbury|E Saulsbury]] | [[Willard Saulsbury, Sr.|W Saulsbury Sr]] | [[Willard Saulsbury, Jr.|W Saulsbury Jr]] | [[Presley Spruance|Spruance]] | [[John G. Townsend, Jr.|Townsend]] | [[James M. Tunnell|Tunnell]] | [[Nicholas Van Dyke (1769-1826)|Van Dyke]] | [[John Vining|Vining]] | [[John Wales|Wales]] | [[William H. Wells|Wells]] | [[Samuel White|White]] | [[John J. Williams (1904-1988)|Williams]] | [[Josiah O. Wolcott|Wolcott]]<br>[[List of United States Senators from Delaware (alphabetic)|(alphabetic list)]] | [[List of United States Senators from Delaware|(chronological list)]] | [[United States Senators from Delaware (election results)|(election results)]] | [[U.S. Congressional Delegations from Delaware|(timeline)]]
|}



[[Category:1817 births|Saulsbury, Willard Sr.]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saulsbury, Willard Sr.}}
[[Category:1893 deaths|Saulsbury, Willard Sr.]]
[[Category:1820 births]]
[[Category:1893 deaths]]
[[Category:United States Senators from Delaware|Saulsbury, Willard Sr.]]
[[Category:19th-century American Episcopalians]]
[[Category:People from Georgetown, Delaware]]
[[Category:People of Delaware in the American Civil War]]
[[Category:University of Delaware alumni]]
[[Category:Dickinson College alumni]]
[[Category:Delaware lawyers]]
[[Category:Delaware Democrats]]
[[Category:Delaware attorneys general]]
[[Category:Democratic Party United States senators from Delaware]]
[[Category:Chancellors of Delaware]]
[[Category:Burials in Dover, Delaware]]
[[Category:Saulsbury family]]
[[Category:19th-century American judges]]
[[Category:19th-century American lawyers]]
[[Category:United States senators who owned slaves]]
[[Category:19th-century United States senators]]

Latest revision as of 23:00, 10 December 2024

Willard Saulsbury Sr.
Chancellor of Delaware
In office
November 14, 1873 – April 6, 1892
Preceded byDaniel M. Bates
Succeeded byJames L. Wolcott
United States Senator
from Delaware
In office
March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1871
Preceded byMartin W. Bates
Succeeded byEli Saulsbury
10th Attorney General of Delaware
In office
1850–1855
GovernorWilliam Tharp
William H. H. Ross
Preceded byEdward W. Gilpin
Succeeded byGeorge P. Fisher
Personal details
Born(1820-06-02)June 2, 1820
Kent County, Delaware
DiedApril 6, 1892(1892-04-06) (aged 71)
Dover, Delaware
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseAnnie Ponder
RelationsEli Saulsbury (brother)
Gove Saulsbury (brother)
Children3, including Willard Jr.
ResidenceGeorgetown, Delaware
Alma materDelaware College
ProfessionLawyer

Willard Saulsbury Sr. (June 2, 1820 – April 6, 1892) was an American lawyer and politician from Georgetown, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served as Attorney General of Delaware, U.S. Senator from Delaware and Chancellor of Court of Chancery of Delaware.

Early life and family

[edit]

Saulsbury was born in Mispillion Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, son of William & Margaret Ann Smith Saulsbury. He was a younger brother of Governor Gove Saulsbury and U.S. Senator Eli Saulsbury. He married Annie Ponder, sister of Governor James Ponder, and they had three children, John Ponder, Margaret, and Willard Jr. They were members of the Episcopal Church. Saulsbury was educated at Dickinson College and Delaware College, which is now the University of Delaware, studied law, was admitted to the Delaware Bar, and began his practice in Georgetown, Delaware. He was a slaveholder.[1]

Political career

[edit]

Saulsbury was the Delaware Attorney General from 1850 until 1855, and was elected to the United States Senate in 1858, defeating incumbent U.S. Senator Martin W. Bates. Saulsbury was reelected in 1864, but was defeated for a third term in 1870 by his older brother, Eli Saulsbury. He served two full terms from March 4, 1859, to March 4, 1871. He then continued his law practice and served as Chancellor of Delaware from 1873 until his death in 1892.

In 1863, Saulsbury was a vehement critic of President Abraham Lincoln's administration. Opposing the war in general and the suspension of habeas corpus specifically, Saulsbury attempted to prevent a vote sustaining that controversial executive order. Apparently intoxicated, Saulsbury verbally attacked the President on the Senate floor in what John Hay described as "language fit only for a drunken fishwife". Senator Saulsbury called Lincoln "an imbecile" and stated that the President was "the weakest man ever placed in a high office". When Vice President Hannibal Hamlin called Saulsbury to order, the Senator refused to take his seat. Finally, the Senate's sergeant-at-arms approached to remove Saulsbury from the Senate floor when the Senator suddenly brandished a revolver, placed it against the sergeant's head and said, "Damn you, if you touch me I'll shoot you dead!" Eventually, Saulsbury was calmed and removed from the Senate floor.[2]

Death and legacy

[edit]

Saulsbury died at Dover and is buried there in the Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery. His son Willard Saulsbury Jr. was also a U.S. Senator.

Almanac

[edit]

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 Notes
Attorney General Executive Dover 1850 1855 Delaware
U.S. Senator Legislature Washington March 4, 1859 March 3, 1865
U.S. Senator Legislature Washington March 4, 1865 March 3, 1871
Chancellor Judiciary Dover November 14, 1873 April 6, 1892 State Chancery Court
United States congressional service
Dates Congress Chamber Majority President Committees Class/District
1859–1861 36th U.S. Senate Democratic James Buchanan class 2
1861–1863 37th U.S. Senate Republican Abraham Lincoln class 2
1863–1865 38th U.S. Senate Republican Abraham Lincoln class 2
1865–1867 39th U.S. Senate Republican Abraham Lincoln
Andrew Johnson 		class 2
1867–1869 40th U.S. Senate Republican Andrew Johnson class 2
1869–1871 41st U.S. Senate Republican Ulysses S. Grant class 2

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Weil, Julie Zauzmer; Blanco, Adrian; Dominguez, Leo. "More than 1,800 congressmen once enslaved Black people. This is who they were, and how they shaped the nation". Washington Post. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  2. ^ "The Battle of Three Brothers". Senate Historical Office. January 17, 1871. Retrieved November 10, 2012.)
  • Hoffecker, Carol E. (2004). Democracy in Delaware. Cedar Tree Books, Wilmington. ISBN 1-892142-23-6.
  • Munroe, John A. (1993). History of Delaware. University of Delaware Press. ISBN 0-87413-493-5.
  • Scharf, John Thomas (1888). History of Delaware 1609-1888. 2 vols. Philadelphia: L. J. Richards & Co. ISBN 0-87413-493-5.
  • Conrad, Henry C. (1908). History of the State of Delaware, 3 vols. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Wickersham Company.

Images

[edit]
[edit]

Places with more information

[edit]
Legal offices
Preceded by Attorney General of Delaware
1850–1855 		Succeeded by
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. senator (Class 2) from Delaware
March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1871
Served alongside: James A. Bayard Jr., George R. Riddle, James A. Bayard Jr., Thomas F. Bayard 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Willard_Saulsbury_Sr.&oldid=1262348997"