Eli May 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 Mispillion Hundred is a hundred in Kent County, Delaware Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlanti ...

, Kent County, Delaware, son of William & Margaret Ann Smith Saulsbury. He was the middle brother of Governor

Gove Saulsbury Gove Saulsbury (May 29, 1815 – July 31, 1881) was an American physician and politician from Dover, in Kent County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, and he served in the Delaware General Assembly and as Governor of Delawar ...

and U.S. Senator

Willard Saulsbury Sr. 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 Chance ...

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.

References

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Images

Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

External links

Biographical Directory of the United States CongressFind a Grave

Places with more information

Delaware Historical Society The Delaware Historical Society began in 1864 as an effort to preserve documents from the Civil War. Since then, it has expanded into a statewide historical institution with several buildings, including Old Town Hall and the Delaware History Muse ...

website
505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 *

University of Delaware The University of Delaware (colloquially UD or Delaware) is a public land-grant research university located in Newark, Delaware. UD is the largest university in Delaware. It offers three associate's programs, 148 bachelor's programs, 121 mas ...

Library website
181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717 {{DEFAULTSORT:Saulsbury, Eli M. 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 politicians 19th-century American lawyers