1809 United States Senate election in New York
| Elections in New York State |
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The 1809 United States Senate election in New York was held on February 7, 1809, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator (Class 1) to represent the State of New York in the United States Senate.
Background
[edit]Samuel L. Mitchill had been elected in November 1804, after the seat had been occupied by Theodorus Bailey (1803-1804) and John Armstrong (1804). He took his seat on November 23, 1804, and his term would expire on March 3, 1809.
At the State election in April 1808, a Democratic-Republican majority was elected to the assembly, and 8 of the 9 state senators up for renewal were Democratic-Republicans. Due to the split of the public opinion over the embargo against Great Britain, which eventually led to the War of 1812, the Federalists managed to elect a much larger number of assemblymen than during the previous years. The party strength in the Assembly was estimated at 60 to 45, this being the vote for Speaker: 60 for James W. Wilkin and 45 for Stephen Van Rensselaer. The 32nd New York State Legislature met from November 1 to 8, 1808; and from January 17 to March 30, 1809, at Albany, New York.
Candidates
[edit]Assemblyman Obadiah German was the candidate of the Democratic-Republican Party.
The incumbent U.S. Senator Dr. Samuel L. Mitchill ran for re-election.
Ex-Clerk of Dutchess County David Brooks, a former Congressman (1797-1799), was the candidate of the Federalist Party.
Result
[edit]Obadiah German was elected.
| Office | House | Democratic-Republican | Federalist | Democratic-Republican | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senator | State Senate (32 members) | 16 | 1 | 9 | |||
| State Assembly (111 members) | 49 | 42 | 7 | ||||
| Obadiah German | 65 | David Brooks | 43 | Samuel L. Mitchill | 16 | ||
Sources
[edit]- The New York Civil List compiled in 1858 (see: pg. 63 for U.S. Senators; pg. 120 for state senators 1808-09; pg. 182f for Members of Assembly 1808-09)
- Members of the 11th United States Congress
- History of Political Parties in the State of New-York by Jabez Delano Hammond (page 276)
- Election result at Tufts University Library project "A New Nation Votes"