Jehu Davis Take Over Delaware and Salutes Washington
Jehu Davis was Acting Governor of Delaware for a very brief time, but was present for the arrival of a very special visitor.
Jehu Davis
Jehu Davis was a successful Delaware planter when the Revolutionary War broke out.
Jehu joined the local militia, but was elected to the State Assembly shortly after independence was declared. He would serve in the Assembly for 10 of the next 14 years.
Additionally, Davis spent 25 years as a Justice of the Peace (minus a 3 year term on the Court of Common Pleas).
Governor
During his time in the Assembly, Jehu became a respected political leader.
When Governor Thomas Collins passed away, the Assembly did not have a Speaker.
It’s members chose Davis to serve as the Acting Governor from March 29 to June 2, 1789.
Washington’s Arrival
Though Davis’ time in the Governor’s chair was brief (little more than two months), one notable happening occurred.
George Washington passed through the capital of Wilmington on his way to accept inauguration as President of the United States.
Though Washington arrived late in the evening and left the following morning, he did have time to publish a response to the Delaware Society for Promoting Domestic Manufactures which discussed his expectation that an “energetic government” would stimulate American business.
An Official Address
Wilmington followed the same pattern as most other cities in extending their well-wishes to the President.
Jehu Davis, as Acting Governor, was one of the leading officials to present Washington an address regarding their admiration of his services.
Davis followed his time as Delaware’s Chief Executive with one last term in the State Assembly.
To read Washington’s response to the Society for Domestic Manufactures…CLICK HERE.
Here are some other articles regarding abolition during the American Founding:
John Cook’s Controversial Winter as Governor of Delaware
Richard Bassett - The First Senior Member of the Senate
Joshua Clayton Transforms Delaware’s Executive Branch
Delaware had a really integral role in the American Founding.
‘Forgotten Founding Fathers’ is a new book that looks at some of Delawares leaders alongside their Pennsylvania counterparts.
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