Thomas Stockton (April 1, 1781 – March 2, 1846) was an American soldier and politician from New Castle, Delaware, New Castle in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a veteran of the War of 1812, and a member of the Whig Party (United States), Whig Party, who served as List of governors of Delaware, Governor of Delaware.
Early life and family
Stockton was born in New Castle Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware, New Castle County, Delaware, son of John and Nancy Griffin Stockton. His father was a brigadier general in the War of 1812, leading the 1st Brigade of Delaware militia. He married Fidelia Johns, daughter of Chancellor Kensey Johns (jurist), Kensey Johns, and they had five children, Thomas, William, James, Elizabeth, and Fidelia. They lived in the Kensey Johns-Van Dyke house at 300 Delaware Street and were members of the Immanuel Episcopal Church in New Castle, Delaware, New Castle.
Military career
After graduating from Princeton University, Princeton College, Stockton joined the Delaware militia. During the War of 1812 he was part of the attack on Fort George on the Niagara River and fought at Battle of Lundy's Lane, Lundy's Lane. Eventually he was promoted to a major in the 42nd Infantry. He retired from the United States Army, U.S. Army in 1825.
Political career
Stockton was the New Castle County, Delaware, New Castle County Register in Chancery from 1832 to 1835. Several years later, in 1844, he was elected List of governors of Delaware, Governor of Delaware by defeating William Tharp, the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party candidate. He took office January 21, 1845 and served until his death on March 2, 1846. He was the sixth List of governors of Delaware, Governor of Delaware to die in office.
He was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati.
Death and legacy
Stockton died at New Castle, Delaware, New Castle and is buried there at the Immanuel Episcopal Church on the Green#Cemetery, Immanuel Episcopal Church Cemetery. Several of his sons and grandsons served in the American Civil War, Civil War.
{, class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
, -bgcolor=#cccccc
!colspan=12 style="background: #ccccff;" , Delaware General Assembly
''(sessions while Governor)''
, -
!Year
!Assembly
!
!Senate Majority
!Speaker
!
!House Majority
!Speaker
, -
, 1845-1846
, Delaware General Assembly, 63rd
,
, , Whig Party (United States), Whig
, , Joseph Maull
,
, , Whig Party (United States), Whig
, , William Temple (politician), William Temple
, -
Almanac
Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. The governor takes office the third Tuesday of January and has a four-year term.
{, class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
, -bgcolor=#cccccc
!colspan=7 style="background: #ccccff;" , Public Offices
, -
! Office
! Type
! Location
! Began office
! Ended office
! notes
, -
, Register in Chancery
, Judiciary
, New Castle, Delaware, New Castle
, 1832
, 1835
,
, -
, List of governors of Delaware, Governor
, Executive (government), Executive
, Dover, Delaware, Dover
, January 21, 1845
, March 2, 1846
,
{, class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
, -bgcolor=#cccccc
!colspan=12 style="background: #ccccff;" , Election results
, -
!Year
!Office
!
!Subject
!Party
!Votes
!%
!
!Opponent
!Party
!Votes
!%
, -
, 1844
, List of governors of Delaware, Governor
,
, , Thomas Stockton
, , Whig Party (United States), Whig
, , 6,140
, , 50%
,
, , William Tharp
, , Democratic Party (United States), Democratic
, , 6,095
, , 50%
References
*
*
*
Images
Hall of Governors Portrait Gallery''Portrait courtesy of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Dover.''
External links
Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States
*
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
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stockton, Thomas
1781 births
1846 deaths
People from New Castle, Delaware
Delaware Whigs
Governors of Delaware
Burials in New Castle County, Delaware
Whig Party state governors of the United States
19th-century American politicians
19th-century American Episcopalians