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| Eli Saulsbury | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Senator from Delaware | |
| In office March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1889 | |
| Preceded by | Willard Saulsbury Sr. |
| Succeeded by | Anthony Higgins |
| Member of the Delaware House of Representatives | |
| In office 1853–1855 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1817-12-29)December 29, 1817 Kent County, Delaware |
| Died | March 22, 1893(1893-03-22) (aged 75) Dover, Delaware |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Dover, Delaware |
| Alma mater | Dickinson College |
| Profession | lawyer |
Eli Saulsbury (December 29, 1817 – March 22, 1893) was an American lawyer and politician from Dover, in Kent County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly and as U.S. Senator from Delaware.
Early life and family
Saulsbury was born in Mispillion Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, son of William and Margaret Ann (Smith) Saulsbury. He was the middle brother of Governor Gove Saulsbury and U.S. Senator Willard Saulsbury Sr. Saulsbury was educated at Dickinson College, studied law, was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1857, and began his practice in Dover, Delaware, where he lived.
Political career
Saulsbury served one term in the State House, during the 1853/54 session. In 1871 he successfully challenged his younger brother, incumbent U.S. Senator Willard Saulsbury Sr., for his seat in the U.S. Senate. He went on to win three full terms but was defeated in an attempt for a fourth term by Republican candidate Anthony Higgins. He was in office from March 4, 1871, until March 3, 1889, and served on the Committee on Privileges and Elections in the 46th Congress, and the Committee on Engrossed Bills in the 47th Congress through the 50th Congress.
He opposed civil rights for African Americans in 1873.
Death and legacy
Saulsbury died at Dover and is buried there in the Silver Lake Cemetery.
Almanac
Elections are held the first week of November. Members of the Delaware General Assembly take office the first week of January. The State House has a term of two years. 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 | |
| State Representative | Legislature | Dover | January 4, 1853 | January 2, 1855 | ||
| U.S. Senator | Legislature | Washington, D.C. | March 4, 1871 | March 3, 1877 | ||
| U.S. Senator | Legislature | Washington, D.C. | March 4, 1877 | March 3, 1883 | ||
| U.S. Senator | Legislature | Washington, D.C. | March 4, 1883 | March 3, 1889 | ||
| Delaware General Assembly service | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dates | Congress | Chamber | Majority | Governor | Committees | Class/District |
| 1853/54 | 67th | State House | Democratic | William H. H. Ross | Kent at-large | |
| United States congressional service | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dates | Congress | Chamber | Majority | President | Committees | Class/District |
| 1871–1873 | 42nd | U.S. Senate | Republican | Ulysses S. Grant | class 2 | |
| 1873–1875 | 43rd | U.S. Senate | Republican | Ulysses S. Grant | class 2 | |
| 1875–1877 | 44th | U.S. Senate | Republican | Ulysses S. Grant | class 2 | |
| 1877–1879 | 45th | U.S. Senate | Republican | Rutherford B. Hayes | class 2 | |
| 1879–1881 | 46th | U.S. Senate | Democratic | Rutherford B. Hayes | class 2 | |
| 1881–1883 | 47th | U.S. Senate | Democratic | James A. Garfield Chester A. Arthur |
class 2 | |
| 1883–1885 | 48th | U.S. Senate | Republican | Chester A. Arthur | class 2 | |
| 1885–1887 | 49th | U.S. Senate | Republican | Grover Cleveland | class 2 | |
| 1887–1889 | 50th | U.S. Senate | Republican | Grover Cleveland | class 2 | |
References
- Friedlander, Alan; Gerber, Richard Allan (November 22, 2018). Welcoming Ruin: The Civil Rights Act of 1875. ISBN 9789004384071.
- 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. L. J. Richards & Co., Philadelphia.
- Conrad, Henry C. (1908). History of the State of Delaware, 3 vols. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Wickersham Company.
Images
External links
- Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Delaware’s Members of Congress
- Eli Saulsbury at Find a Grave
- The Political Graveyard
Places with more information
- Delaware Historical Society; website; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801.
- University of Delaware; Library website; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717.
| U.S. Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byWillard Saulsbury Sr. | U.S. senator (Class 2) from Delaware March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1889 Served alongside: Thomas F. Bayard, George Gray |
Succeeded byAnthony Higgins |
| United States senators from Delaware | ||
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 |  | |
| Class 2 | ||
- 1817 births
- 1893 deaths
- People from Dover, Delaware
- Dickinson College alumni
- Delaware lawyers
- Democratic Party members of the Delaware House of Representatives
- Democratic Party United States senators from Delaware
- Burials in Dover, Delaware
- Saulsbury family
- 19th-century American lawyers
- 19th-century United States senators
- 19th-century members of the Delaware General Assembly