Willard Saulsbury, Sr.

Infobox Officeholder
honorific-prefix =
name = Willard Saulsbury,
honorific-suffix = Sr.


imagesize =
small

office = Chancellor of Delaware
term_start = November 14 1873
term_end = April 6 1892
predecessor = Daniel M. Bates
successor = James L. Wolcott
office2 = U. S. Senator from Delaware
term_start2 = March 4 1859
term_end2 = March 3 1871
predecessor2 = Martin W. Bates
successor2 = Eli M. Saulsbury
birth_date = birth date|1820|6|2|mf=y
birth_place = Kent County Delaware
death_date = death date and age|1892|4|6|1820|6|2
death_place = Dover Delaware
spouse =
party = Democratic
residence = Georgetown Delaware
alma_mater = Delaware College
occupation =
profession = lawyer
religion = Episcopalian

Willard Saulsbury, Sr. (June 2 1820 – April 6 1892) was a lawyer and politician from Georgetown, in Sussex County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served as U.S. Senator from Delaware and Chancellor of Delaware.

Early life and family

Saulsbury was born June 2 1820 in Mispillion Hundred, Kent County Delaware, son of William & Margaret Ann Smith Saulsbury. He was a younger brother of Governor Gove Saulsbury and U.S. Senator Eli M. Saulsbury. He married Annie Ponder, sister of Governor James Ponder, and they had three children, John Ponder, Margaret, and Willard Jr.. They were members of the Episcopal Church. Saulsbury was educated at Dickinson College and Delaware College, which is now the University of Delaware, studied law, was admitted to the Delaware Bar, and began his practice in Georgetown Delaware.

Political career

Saulsbury was the Attorney General of Delaware from 1850 until 1855, and was elected to the United States Senate in 1858, defeating incumbent U.S. Senator Martin W. Bates. Saulsbury was reelected in 1864, but was defeated for a third term in 1870 by his older brother, Eli M. Saulsbury. He served two full terms from March 4 1859, to March 4 1871. He then continued his law practice and served as Chancellor of Delaware from 1873 until his death in 1892.

Controversy

In 1863, Saulsbury was a vehement critic of President Abraham Lincoln's administration. Opposing the war in general and the suspension of habeas corpus specifically, Saulsbury attempted to prevent a vote sustaining that controversial executive order. Apparently intoxicated, Saulsbury verbally attacked the President on the Senate floor in what John Hay described as "language fit only for a drunken fishwife". Senator Saulsbury called Lincoln "an imbecile" and stated that the President was "the weakest man ever placed in a high office". When Vice President Hannibal Hamlin called Saulsbury to order, the Senator refused to take his seat. Finally, the Senate's sergeant-at-arms approached to remove Saulsbury from the Senate floor when the Senator suddenly brandished a revolver, placed it against the sergeant's head and said, "Damn you, if you touch me I'll shoot you dead!" Eventually, Saulsbury was calmed and removed from the Senate floor.

Death and legacy

Saulsbury died April 6 1892 in Dover Delaware, and is buried in the Christ Episcopal Churchyard in Dover. His son, Willard Saulsbury, Jr. was also a U.S. Senator.

Public offices

The General Assembly chose the U.S. Senators, who took office the first week of March, and served for a six year term.