86th Delaware General Assembly

The 86th Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 6, 1891, which was two weeks before the beginning of the first administrative year of Governor Robert J. Reynolds.

86th Delaware General Assembly
← 85th 87th →
Overview
Legislative body	Delaware General Assembly
Term	January 6, 1891 (1891-01-06) – January 3, 1893 (1893-01-03)

Currently the distribution of the Senate Assembly seats was made to three senators for each of the three counties. Likewise the current distribution of the House Assembly seats was made to seven representatives for each of the three counties. The actual population changes of the county did not directly affect the number of senators or representatives at this time.

In the 86th Delaware General Assembly session both chambers had a Democratic majority.

Leadership

Senate

• John P. Donohoe, New Castle County, Democratic

House of Representatives

• William L. Sirman, Sussex County, Democratic

Members

Senate

Senators were normally elected by the public for a four-year term; although many were selected to fill the remainder of a vacant position.

New Castle County John P. Donohoe James McMullin John Pilling

Kent County John W. Hall Alden B. Richardson James Williams

Sussex County Charles B. Houston David O. Moore William M. Ross

House of Representatives

Representatives were elected by the public for a two-year term.

New Castle County John A. Cranston Thomas J. Day David W. Elkinton John C. Higgins Thomas B. Smith Edwin E. Thomas Charles Walton

Kent County Thomas Attix John M. Eisenbrey William T. Hutson Gilder D. Jackson David D. Marvel Perry P. Rickards Daniel M. Ridgely

Sussex County William H. Chapman Horace J. Hickman Elihu J. Morris Robert R. Morris William L. Sirman John A. Tindall John H. West

References

• Hoffecker, Carol E. (2004). Democracy in Delaware. Wilmington, Delaware: Cedar Tree Books. ISBN 1-892142-23-6.
• Martin, Roger A. (1995). Memoirs of the Senate. Newark, Delaware: Roger A. Martin.

Places with more information

• Delaware Historical Society; website; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; (302) 655-7161.
• University of Delaware; Library website; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; (302) 831-2965.