The First Senior Member of the Senate - Richard Bassett
Updated 6/22/21
Richard Bassett was a signer of the United States Constitution from Delaware.
Richard Bassett
Richard Bassett and his mother were abandoned by his father while he was still young.
Fortunately, his mother came from a wealthy family whose money he inherited.
After studying law under Robert Goldsborough, Bassett became a politician in his home colony of Delaware.
Independence
Bassett was considered a conservative during the early Revolutionary Period. He was slow to warm to the idea of independence and favored making amends with Great Britain.
That being said, as soon as the United States became a separate nation, Bassett threw himself in with his countrymen. He was elected to the State Assembly where he spent the entirety of the war. Additionally, he assisted in crafting the first Delaware Constitution.
Furthermore, Richard excelled at raising and supplying soldiers. Due to this work, Delaware men were known to have some of the finest uniforms (and best weapons) in the Continental Army.
Constitutional Convention
In 1787, Richard Bassett was sent to represent Delaware at the Constitutional Convention.
Bassett was in Philadelphia for almost the entire summer. Although he was one of the few participants who did not make any speeches, he became one of the small group of people who have their signature on the United States Constitution.
Two years later, Richard was elected as an inaugural member of the United States Senate.
Because (according to Richard A. Baker) seniority was assigned to this first rounder of representatives alphabetically, Bassett was named the original Senior Member of the Senate.
Governor
After his term ended, Richard Bassett was selected as the Chief Justice of the Delaware Court of Common Pleas.
By the end of the eighteenth century, Bassett was chosen as Governor of Delaware.
At the closing of his Presidency, John Adams chose Richard as one of the ‘Midnight Judges.’ These were a large group of Federalists who were stuffed in to newly created court positions.
Adams made Bassett a Judge of the United States Circuit Court for the Third Circuit. He held this position for a year and a half, until President Jefferson had the Federal Justice laws changed.
After leaving office, Richard Bassett retired from politics and focused on charity and community.
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Here are some other DELAWARE FOUNDERS:
John Vining - Delaware’s Lonely Representative
William Peery Postpones an Election
If you want to learn more about signers of the Constitution, one of my favorite books is ‘Signing Their Rights Away’.
If you’d like a copy for your very own you can through the Amazon affiliate link below (you’ll support this site, but don’t worry, Amazon pays me while your price stays the same).
