John Patten (American politician)

Major John Patten (April 26, 1746 – December 26, 1800) was a United States farmer and politician from Dover, in Kent County, Delaware. He was an officer of the Continental Army in the American Revolution, a Continental Congressman, and a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly and as a United States representative from Delaware.

John Patten
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Delaware's At-large district
In office
March 4, 1795 – March 3, 1797
Preceded byHenry Latimer
Succeeded byJames A. Bayard
In office
March 4, 1793 – February 14, 1794
Preceded byJohn M. Vining
Succeeded byHenry Latimer
Continental Congressman
from Delaware
In office
November 7, 1785 – November 3, 1786
Personal details
Born(1746-04-26)April 26, 1746
Kent County, Delaware Colony, British America
DiedDecember 26, 1800(1800-12-26) (aged 54)
Dover, Delaware, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic-Republican
Spouse(s)Ann Haslet
Mary Miller Loockerman
Residence(s)Dover, Delaware
OccupationFarmer

Early life and family

Patten was born at Tyn Head Court near Dover in the Delaware Colony, son of John Patten and Ann Maxwell. This property is near Dover Air Force Base, near the farms of Caesar Rodney and John Dickinson. He was a farmer, who after the American Revolution married Ann Haslet, daughter of the first Colonel of the 1st Delaware Regiment, John Haslet. She died soon thereafter, and he married Mary Miller Loockerman, daughter of the Rev. John Miller and widow of Vincent Loockerman.

American Revolution

Patten was commissioned a first lieutenant in Captain John Caldwell's 2nd Company of the 1st Delaware Regiment at the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. He was soon promoted to captain of the 1st Company and in February 1779 and was promoted to the rank of major. He fought in every major battle from the Battle of Long Island until the Battle of Camden, where the Delaware Regiment suffered grievous losses, and he was taken prisoner. Paroled in 1781, after the fighting was over, he is said to have walked home alone in rags from Charleston, South Carolina.

Political career

Patten was elected in 1785 to the State House or House of Assembly, as it was then known, and represented Kent County, during the 1785/86 session. At the same time he was elected to the Continental Congress in 1785 and served there one year. He won a closely contested election to the U.S. House in 1792 and took his seat in the U.S. House on March 4, 1793. However, Henry Latimer, the Federal candidate contested the election, claiming that many ballots were invalid because they were filled out incorrectly. After a lengthy study the Federalist majority in the U.S. House voted on February 14, 1794 to invalidate enough ballots to award the seat to Latimer. A few months later Patten again defeated Latimer, and this time served the whole term, from March 4, 1795 until March 3, 1797. Brought out of political retirement in 1800, Patten was defeated for the U.S. House seat by the incumbent Federalist James A. Bayard.

Death and legacy

Patten died at his home, Tynhead Court, near Dover, and is buried in the Old Presbyterian Cemetery, which is at Dover, on the grounds of the Delaware State Museum. He had a home on the north side of Front Street, between Orange and Tatnall Streets in Wilmington, Delaware, but was always a legal resident of Kent County. He was active in the Philadelphia Society for promoting Agriculture, the Society of the Cincinnati,[1] and the Lyceum of Delaware.

Almanac

Elections were held October 1. Members of the General Assembly took office on October 20 or the following weekday. The State Assemblymen were elected for a one-year term. They chose the Continental Congressmen for a one-year term. U.S. Representatives took office March 4 and have a two-year term.

After 1792 elections were moved to the first Tuesday of October and members of the General Assembly took office on the first Tuesday of January. The State Legislative Council was renamed the State Senate and the State House of Assembly was renamed the State House of Representatives.

Public Offices
Office Type Location Party Began office Ended office notes
State House Legislature Dover non-partisan October 20, 1785 October 20, 1786
Continental Congress Legislature New York non-partisan November 7, 1785 November 3, 1786
U.S. Representative Legislature Philadelphia Republican March 4, 1793 February 14, 1794 [2]
U.S. Representative Legislature Philadelphia Republican March 4, 1795 March 3, 1797
United States Congressional service
Dates Congress Chamber Majority President Committees Class/District
1793–1795 3rd U.S. House Anti-Administration George Washington at-large
1795–1797 4th U.S. House Republican George Washington at-large
Election results
Year Office Subject Party votes % Opponent Party votes %
1792 U.S. Representative John Patten Republican 2,273 50% Henry Latimer Federalist 2,243 50%
1794 U.S. Representative John Patten Republican 2,409 51% Henry Latimer Federalist 2,285 49%
1800 U.S. Representative John Patten Republican 2,340 47% James A. Bayard, Sr. Federalist 2,674 53%

Notes
  1. Metcalf, Bryce (1938). Original Members and Other Officers Eligible to the Society of the Cincinnati, 1783-1938: With the Institution, Rules of Admission, and Lists of the Officers of the General and State Societies. Strasburg, Va.: Shenandoah Publishing House, Inc. p. 245.
  2. election successfully contested and seat awarded to Henry Latimer

References
  • Martin, Roger A. (2003). Delawareans in Congress: The House of Representatives, Vol. One 1789-1900. Newark: Roger A. Martin. ISBN 0-924117-26-5.
  • Martin, Roger A. (1995). Memoirs of the Senate. Newark: Roger A. Martin.
  • Munroe, John A. (2004). The Philadelawareans. Newark: University of Delaware Press. ISBN 0-87413-872-8.
  • Munroe, John A. (1954). Federalist Delaware 1775-1815. New Brunswick: Rutgers University.
  • Ward, Christopher (1941). The Delaware Continentals. Wilmington, DE: Historical Society of Delaware. ISBN 0-924117-21-4.
  • Wilson, W. Emerson (1969). Forgotten Heroes of Delaware. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Deltos Publishing Company.

Images
  • Martin, Roger A. (2003). Delawareans in Congress: The House of Representatives, Vol. One 1789-1900. Newark: Roger A. Martin. ISBN 0-924117-26-5. Portrait courtesy of the Delaware Public Archives.

Places with more information
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