Jacob Stout (October 26, 1764 – November 28, 1855) was an American manufacturer and politician from Little Creek Hundred, in Kent County, Delaware. He was a member of the Federalist Party, who served in the

Delaware General Assembly The Delaware General Assembly is the legislature of the U.S. state of Delaware. It is a bicameral legislature composed of the Delaware Senate with 21 senators and the Delaware House of Representatives with 41 representatives. It meets at Legisl ...

and as

Governor of Delaware A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Early life and family

Stout was born in Little Creek Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, the son of Jacob Emanuel Stout and his second wife Mary Griffin Stout. His ancestors came to Kent County from New Jersey in the 17th century. Like many in the area, his father was a reluctant revolutionary in 1776, but later served six years in the

. Jacob Stout married Angelica Killen in 1795 and had four children, Mary, William, Henry, Sarah Ann, and William Jacob. The exact location of their home is debated. Some say it was north of Leipsic and others say it was west of it, on the Cheswold Road. It was nearby in any case, as he was one of the founders of Leipsic. He was also president of the

Smyrna Smyrna ( ; grc, Σμύρνη, Smýrnē, or , ) was a Greek city located at a strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Due to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence, and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to promi ...

Bank from 1844 until 1847. They were members of the Presbyterian Church. Stout had a tannery in Dover and one day while bending over to check the contents of one of the tanning vats, a pet ram seized the opportunity and butted him into the vat. Supposedly Stout then commented on the impudence of the ... ram to butt the

into a tanning vat., p. 138.

Professional and political career

Stout served in the state house for two sessions in 1813 and 1814. He was then elected to the state senate for two terms, beginning with the 1815 session and ending with the 1820 session, when he was elected Speaker. This was done in full knowledge that he would immediately become governor, as the person recently elected to become governor, Henry Molleston, had died before taking office. As part of the arrangement it was agreed that Stout would serve but one year and a special gubernatorial election would be held in 1820 for a two-year term. He served as

from January 18, 1820 until January 16, 1821. During his term in office the issue of the extension of slavery into

U.S. territories Territories of the United States are sub-national administrative divisions overseen by the federal government of the United States. The various American territories differ from the U.S. states and tribal reservations as they are not sover ...

became a national crisis. Typically, Delaware was divided on the matter. Stout and the General Assembly supported national action preventing slavery's extension, but most of Delaware's congressional delegation disagreed. The

Missouri Compromise of 1820 The Missouri Compromise was a federal legislation of the United States that balanced desires of northern states to prevent expansion of slavery in the country with those of southern states to expand it. It admitted Missouri as a slave state and ...

was the final result. In 1822 Stout was named a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas.

Death and legacy

Stout died at his home in Little Creek Hundred, Kent County. At first he was buried at his home, but later was moved and is now buried in the Old Presbyterian Cemetery, which is at Dover, on the grounds of the Delaware State Museum. During the course of his long life he was involved in much activity. In addition to his political career and tannery, he was active in land reclamation and development projects, helped to lay out the road from Bombay Hook Lighthouse to

and was one of the founders of the town of Leipsic.

Almanac

Elections were held the first Tuesday of October. Members of the Delaware General Assembly took office the first Tuesday of January. State senators had a three-year term and state representatives had a one-year term. The governor takes office the third Tuesday of January and had a three-year term.

Notes

References

* * * * *

External links

Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States
*

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 ma ...

Library website
181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; (302) 831-2965 {{DEFAULTSORT:Stout, Jacob 1764 births 1855 deaths American Presbyterians People from Kent County, Delaware Businesspeople from Delaware Delaware Federalists Members of the Delaware House of Representatives Delaware state senators Governors of Delaware Burials in Dover, Delaware Federalist Party state governors of the United States People of colonial Delaware