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.

Clayton 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 at Valley Forge.

Political career

Following this Clayton served in the House of Assembly in the 1778/79 session, and again from the 1780/81 session through the 1783/84 session. He was back again in the 1785/86 session, and 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 became 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 state Constitution was the major political development 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, elected by popular vote and no longer sharing executive authority with the Privy Council. The other major change was to expand the voting franchise by eliminating the property ownership requirement.

A New State House

During Clayton's tenure it was determined that a new courthouse was needed in Kent County. 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, and continued their session.”

The next day, the State House 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)."

President/Governor of Delaware
Previous		Service Dates		Successor
Jehu Davis		May 30, 1789- January 15, 1793		Joshua Clayton
Joshua Clayton		January 15, 1793- January 19, 1796		Gunning Bedford, Sr.

Delaware General Assembly (sessions while President/Governor)
Year	Assembly		Senate Majority	Speaker		House Majority	Speaker
1788/89	13th		non-partisan	George Mitchell		non-partisan	Jehu Davis
1789/90	14th		non-partisan	George Mitchell		non-partisan	Jehu Davis
1790/91	15th		non-partisan	George Mitchell		non-partisan	Henry Latimer
1791/92	16th		non-partisan	George Mitchell		non-partisan	Allan McLane
1793	17th		Federalist	Daniel Rogers		Federalist	Stephen Lewis
1794	18th		Federalist	Daniel Rogers		Federalist	Stephen Lewis
1795	19th		Federalist	Daniel Rogers		Federalist	Peter Lowber

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, while still in office. 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, from where they were moved again in 1965 upon a widening of the nearby 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.

Almanac

Elections were held October 1 and members of the General Assembly took office on October 20, 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 3, 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.

Public Offices
Office	Type	Location	Elected	Took Office	Left Office	notes
Assemblyman	Legislature	Dover	October 20, 1778	October 20, 1779
Assemblyman	Legislature	Dover	October 20, 1780	October 20, 1781
Assemblyman	Legislature	Dover	October 20, 1781	October 21, 1782
Assemblyman	Legislature	Dover	October 21, 1782	October 20, 1783
Assemblyman	Legislature	Dover	October 20, 1783	October 20, 1784
Assemblyman	Legislature	Dover	October 20, 1785	October 20, 1786
Assemblyman	Legislature	Dover	October 20, 1786	October 20, 1787
Assemblyman	Legislature	Dover	October 20, 1787	October 20, 1788
State President	Executive	Dover	May 30, 1789	January 15, 1793
Governor	Executive	Dover	January 15, 1793	January 13, 1796
U.S. Senator	Legislature	Philadelphia	January 19, 1798	August 11, 1798	died in office

Delaware General Assembly service
Dates	Assembly	Chamber	Majority	Governor	Committees	District
1778/79	3rd	State House	non-partisan	Caesar Rodney		New Castle at-large
1780/81	5th	State House	non-partisan	Caesar Rodney		New Castle at-large
1781/82	6th	State House	non-partisan	John Dickinson		New Castle at-large
1782/83	7th	State House	non-partisan	John Cook		New Castle at-large
1783/84	8th	State House	non-partisan	Nicholas Van Dyke		New Castle at-large
1785/86	10th	State House	non-partisan	Nicholas Van Dyke		New Castle at-large
1786/87	11th	State House	non-partisan	Thomas Collins		New Castle at-large
1787/88	12th	State House	non-partisan	Thomas Collins		New Castle at-large

United States Congressional service
Dates	Congress	Chamber	Majority	President	Committees	Class/District
1797-1799	5th	U.S. Senate	Federalist	John Adams		class 2

Election results
Year	Office		Subject	Party	Votes	%		Opponent	Party	Votes	%
1792	Governor		Joshua Clayton	Federalist	2,209	48%		Thomas Montgomery George Mitchell	Democratic-Republican Independent Federalist	1,902 458	42% 10%

Attribution

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Images

• Hall of Governors Portrait Gallery Portrait courtesy of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Dover