George Read Riddle (1817 – March 28, 1867) was an American engineer, lawyer and politician from
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington ( Lenape: ''Paxahakink /'' ''Pakehakink)'' is the largest city in the U.S. state of Delaware. The city was built on the site of Fort Christina, the first Swedish settlement in North America. It lies at the confluence of the Christina ...
. He was a member of the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to:
*Democratic Party (United States)
Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to:
Active parties Africa
*Botswana Democratic Party
*Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
*Gabonese Democratic Party
*Demo ...
who served as U.S. Representative and as U.S. Senator from Delaware.
Early life and family
Riddle was born in
New Castle, Delaware
New Castle is a city in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. The city is located six miles (10 km) south of Wilmington and is situated on the Delaware River. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 5,285.
History
New Castl ...
and studied civil engineering at Delaware College, now the
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 ...
. In addition he studied law and was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1848, beginning a practice in Wilmington, Delaware. With his engineering background, he was named as a commissioner to retrace the
Mason–Dixon line
The Mason–Dixon line, also called the Mason and Dixon line or Mason's and Dixon's line, is a demarcation line separating four U.S. states, forming part of the borders of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia (part of Virginia ...
in 1849, and was otherwise engaged in the construction of railroads and canals. In 1844, Riddle was hired to design the
Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery
Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery is a rural cemetery at 701 Delaware Avenue in Wilmington, Delaware. Founded in 1843, it contains over 21,000 burials on about 25 acres.
History
The cemetery was envisioned in 1843 by Sam Wollaston, who sought ...
. During the Civil War, Riddle served with the Home Guard of Wilmington. His wife's name was Margaret.
Political career
From 1849 to 1850, Riddle served as a Deputy Attorney General of the United States. After losing in the election of 1844, he was elected to the U.S. House in 1850 and served for two terms from March 4, 1851, until March 3, 1855. During the 33rd Congress, Riddle was the Chairman of the Committee on Engraving. Running for a third term he was defeated in 1854 by Elisha D. Cullen.
In 1860, Riddle was one of only two
slaveholder
The following is a list of slave owners, for which there is a consensus of historical evidence of slave ownership, in alphabetical order by last name.
A
* Adelicia Acklen (1817–1887), at one time the wealthiest woman in Tennessee, she inh ...
s in Delaware. He owned three slaves, a 68-year-old male and two females aged 56 and 12.
On February 2, 1864, Riddle was elected to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of U.S. Senator James A. Bayard, Jr. He served until his death on March 29, 1867.
Death and legacy
Riddle died while in office at Washington, D.C. and is buried in the
Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery
Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery is a rural cemetery at 701 Delaware Avenue in Wilmington, Delaware. Founded in 1843, it contains over 21,000 burials on about 25 acres.
History
The cemetery was envisioned in 1843 by Sam Wollaston, who sought ...
at Wilmington.
Almanac
Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. U.S. Representatives took office March 4 and have a two-year term. The General Assembly chose the U.S. Senators, who also took office March 4, but for a six-year term. In this case he was completing the existing term, the vacancy caused by the resignation of James A. Bayard, Jr.
See also
*
Notes
References
*
*
External links
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress *
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; (302) 655-7161
*
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; (302) 831-2965
{{DEFAULTSORT:Riddle, George
1817 births
1867 deaths
People from New Castle, Delaware
Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Delaware
Democratic Party United States senators from Delaware
American slave owners
Delaware lawyers
People from Wilmington, Delaware
19th-century American politicians
19th-century American lawyers
University of Delaware alumni
People of Delaware in the American Civil War
Burials at Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery
United States senators who owned slaves