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EspañolSUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
The 'Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania' represented the executive branch of the Pennsylvania State government between 1777 and 1790. It was headed by a President and a Vice-President (analogous to a Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively). The best known member of the Council was Dr. Benjamin Franklin, who also served as its sixth President.
The 1776 Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was framed by a constitutional convention called at the urging of the Continental Congress. The convention began work in Philadelphia on 15 July 1776—less than two weeks following adoption of the Declaration of Independence; the Constitution was adopted 28 September of the same year. The document included both ''A Declaration of the Rights of the Inhabitants of the Commonwealth'' and a ''Plan or Frame of Government''. The latter includes forty seven sections, several of which deal with the formation and function of the Supreme Executive Council.Text of 1776 Pennsylvania Constitution from the Pennsylvania State ArchivesText of 1776 Pennsylvania Constitution from the Yale Law SchoolText of 1776, 1790, and 1838 Pennsylvania Constitutions from Jim Means, California University of Pennsylvania
'Section 3:' "The supreme executive power shall be vested in a president and council."
'Section 19:' "For the present the supreme executive council of this state shall consist of twelve persons chosen in the following manner..."
The city of Philadelphia and the eleven counties existing at the time each elected a representative to sit on the Council. These eleven counties were Philadelphia County (at that time a governmental entity distinct from the City of Philadelphia), Chester, Bucks, Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Berks, Northampton, Bedford, Northumberland, and Westmoreland. Seats were added for Washington, Fayette, Franklin, Montgomery, Dauphin, Luzerene, Huntingdon, and Allegheny as those counties were established. It should be noted that many of these counties occupied considerably different—and much larger—territories in the late Eighteenth Century than they do today.
Counsellors were elected to three-year terms; the terms were staggered so that one third would be contested each year. (''Counsellors'' is the spelling used in the Constitution itself, although the word is also rendered ''councillors'', ''councellors'', and ''councilors'' in other documents.) The President and Vice-President of the Council were chosen from those twelve Counsellors, elected to one-year terms by an annual joint ballot of the Council and the General Assembly, generally held in November.
'Section 20:' The Council and its President were given power to
★ appoint judges, attorneys general, naval officers, and other officers
★ fill offices vacant due to death, resignation, removal, or disqualification
★ correspond with other states
★ prepare business to present to the General Assembly
★ serve as judges on cases of impeachment
★ grant pardons and remit fines (except in cases of impeachment)
★ grant reprieves in cases of treason and murder
★ ensure that the laws and other acts of the General Assembly were carried out
★ lay embargoes and prohibit the export of any commodity (in certain circumstances)
Additionally:
★ the President of Council was to serve as commander in chief of the military forces of the state
★ the Council was ordered to keep an accurate record of its procedings
The Supreme Executive Council formally convened 4 March 1777. The first President and Vice-President were elected the following day. The Council sat in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, now known as Independence Hall. It met in what had been the Governor's Council Chamber during British rule. The Executive Council, along with the General Assembly, moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania ahead of the British occupation of Philadelphia in the fall of 1777—the last meeting in Philadelphia took place on 23 September and the first in Lancaster on 1 October. The Council returned to Philadelphia 26 June 1778.
The Council was replaced by a single Governor on 21 December 1790.
Seven men served as President of the Supreme Executive Council. (One, George Bryan, was never elected to the position, but today is considered by the Commonwealth to have been a full-fledged governor of Pennsylvania, perhaps due to the length of his term as Acting President.) Several figure prominently in the history of Pennsylvania, but none moreso than Dr. Benjamin Franklin. His presidency was one of his last acts of public service, and he died less than two years after leaving office. Franklin was also the longest serving President, having held the office for slightly over three years. There is some question about the ''de facto'' end of his term, suggesting that the aging Franklin was not actively involved in affairs of state toward the end of his presidency. (This is certainly not a consensus view, as other sources report that all actions of the Council during his term had Franklin's approval, even if that meant convening the Council at Franklin's home.) The shortest term was that of George Bryan, who served as Acting President for just over six months. Although these men may be referred to properly as ''Presidents of Pennsylvania'' their office is analogous to the modern office of Governor, and they are often included in lists of those who have held the latter title.Prior Governors of Pennsylvania from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Presidents and Vice-Presidents were styled ''His Excellency.''
The neighborhood of South Philadelphia contains a series of east-west streets named in honor of Pennsylvania's early Governors. Moving south on South 25th Street are Wharton, Reed and Dickinson Streets. (Bryan, never officially elected to the office, is omitted.) Moore Street, out of sequence, follows after two intervening streets (Tasker and Morris). There is no Franklin Street in the immediate neighborhood, although memorials to Franklin are hardly lacking throughout Philadelphia. Moore is followed by Mifflin Street, McKean Street, and Snyder Street. Wharton Street borders Wharton Square Park, although it is not clear if the park is named after Thomas Wharton or another member of his prominent family. Dickinson College and the Dickinson School of Law, both in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, were named after John Dickinson. Dickinson was portrayed, perhaps unflatteringly, as an impediment to Independence in the musical drama 1776, alongside a much more jovial Benjamin Franklin.
Similarly, the office of Vice-President of Pennsylvania is analagous to the modern office of Lieutenant Governor. Of the ten men who held the office, two succeeded to the Presidency (the first—Bryan—''de facto'', the second—Moore—''de jure''). The longest Vice-Presidential term was that of George Bryan; he served over two and a half years, although he also served as Acting President for six months concurrent with his Vice-Presidential term. The shortest term was that of Matthew Smith, who served for twelve days in October 1779.
† At least one source credits four Vice-Presidents with having served as ''Acting Presidents''.NNDB listing of Pennsylvania Governors, accessed 1 May 2007. However, it must be noted that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania makes no such distinction in its listing of the state's past governors. None of these men was given the title of Acting President during his time in office—each continued to be addressed as Vice-President and were titled ''Acting President'' only after the fact. During George Bryan's term as Acting President the office of President was, in fact, vacant—Thomas Wharton died 23 May 1778 and an election to chose his successor was not held until 1 December—due perhaps to the Council's evacuation to Lancaster during that time. At over seven months, Bryan's tenure was such that today he is considered a full-fledged Governor by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The situations of the three other "Acting Presidents" (Potter, Biddle and Redick) is less clear. The minutes of the Supreme Executive Council contain no indication that the President (Moore, Dickinson and Franklin, respectively) had left, relinquished or been removed from office. During these "Acting Presidencies" the actual President ''was'' indeed absent from Council meetings, which were thus overseen by the Vice-President, but it is not clear what might distinguish these from numerous other periods during which the Vice-President, rather than the President, sat at the head of the Council. It should be noted that each of these "Acting Presidencies" immediately preceded the election of a new President (Dickinson, Franklin, and Mifflin, respectively). It has also been suggested that Benjamin Franklin, by then in his early eighties, was not actively involved in the daily operation of the government near the end of his term, a situation that might have required Charles Biddle to take on a greater role than he would otherwise have had.
‡ The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania reports that Biddle's Vice-Presidential term extended to 31 October 1787, at which time Peter Muhlenberg was elected to the office. However Biddle's term as Counsellor from Berks County ended eighteen days earlier, on 13 October, when he was succeeded by James Read. Although Biddle was no longer a member of Council after 13 October he was elected Secretary of the Council on 23 October.''Minutes of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, from its organization to the termination of the Revolution. [Mar. 4, 1777 - Dec. 20, 1790]''. Harrisburg, Pub. by the State, 1852-53. Vol XI, pp 173-175; Vol XIII, pp 111-114.
The first election of a President and Vice-President of Pennsylvania took place 5 March 1777. Thereafter, leadership elections took place in the fall, generally in November, following the popular election (held the second Tuesday in October) in which Counsellors and Assemblymen were elected by eligible citizens. Routine elections involved a joint ballot of the Council and the General Assembly. Several other elections were held to fill vacancies resulting from resignation; these involved only a vote by the Council rather than a joint ballot. More often than not, records do not list contenders (other than the winners) or vote tallies, saying simply that a particular gentleman was duly elected President and another Vice-President.
‡ Throughout the history of the Council it was standard practice for newly-elected Presidents and Vice-Presidents to take office immediately upon election. However, there were a few instances in which an individual did not take the oath of office until the day following his election. Section 40 of the 1776 Constitution stipulates: “Every officer, whether judicial, executive or military, in authority under this commonwealth, shall take the following…oath of office before he enters on the execution of his office,” meaning that an individual could not assume the duties of his office before taking the necessary oath. Cross referencing the election dates above with the preceding listings of terms in office will thus reveal several slight discrepancies, all resulting from a delayed administration of the oath:
★ George Bryan, elected Vice-President 5 March 1777, took office 6 March.
★ William Moore, elected President 14 November 1781, took office 15 November.
★ James Potter, elected Vice-President 14 November 1781, took office 15 November.
No reasons for the delays are noted in the minutes of the Council. Neither set of dates involved a conflict with the sabbath. There were other delays that involved reelections of men who had already been sworn into office at the start of their previous term. These are not noted here.
Counsellors were elected to represent each county in Pennsylvania as well as the city of Philadelphia. They were elected to three-year terms. Many served less than a full three, while others appear to have served slightly more.† The Council sat year-round and there was no specific date set for the start of a session or of any Counsellor's term. Rather, new Counsellors appear to have begun their terms whenever they were able to travel to Philadelphia following their elections. The general election at that time was held on the second Tuesday in October and most Counsellors took office in late October or in November. In most instances it is easy to fix the date on which a particular Counsellor’s term began, as the Minutes of the Council will note that on a particular date a particular gentleman was administered the oath and admitted to his seat. Many Counsellors had sporadic attendance, and several were absent for a year or more at a time. This was particularly true of representatives from the distant western counties, although the phenomenon was certainly not limited to those gentlemen. Some Counsellors simply sat out the last several months of their terms, their names disappearing from the Minutes by late summer or early autumn. Thus, the following list of Counsellors generally notes only the day on which each began his term; unless indicated otherwise it is assumed that each term extended to the beginning of the next, regardless of the incumbent’s actual attendance. Counsellors were accorded the title of ''Esquire''.
† With the Council set to be dissolved in December 1790, Counsellors whose terms should have expired in October or November of that year remained in office a few additional weeks; new elections were not held. Also, a review of the dates on which Counsellors began their terms will reveal several instances in which more than three years elapsed between the start of successive terms. It is uncertain whether the seat technically became vacant after three years or if the incumbent's term extended to the start of his successor's, even if this meant exceding the three-year term limit.
★ The home counties of two early Counsellors, John Evans and John Lowdan, has not yet been determined. Both were sitting when the Council first convened on 4 March 1777. It appears that one likely represented Chester County and the other York.
'City of Philadelphia'
# George Bryan (4 March 1777)
# William Moore (18 October 1779)
# James Irvine (14 October 1782)
# Benjamin Franklin (17 October 1785)
# Samuel Miles (20 October 1788-21 December 1790)
'Philadelphia County'
# Joseph Wharton (4 March 1777; died in office 23 May 1778)
# Joseph Reed (24 November 1778)
# John Bayard (16 October 1781)
# John Dickinson (4 November 1782)
# Henry Hill (17 October 1785)
# Thomas Mifflin (20 October 1788-21 December 1790)
'Chester County'
# John Mackey (McKay, MacKay, Macky) (21 November 1777)
# Dr. Joseph Gardner (23 October 1779)
# John McDowell (2 November 1782)
# Evan Evans (28 October 1785)
# Richard Willing (16 October 1788-21 December 1790)
'Bucks County'
# Joseph Hart (23 July 1777)
# Gen. John Lacey Jr. (28 October 1779)
# George Wall Jr. (29 October 1782)
# Samuel Dean (1 November 1785)
# Amos Gregg (21 October 1788-21 December 1790)
'Lancaster County'
# John Hubley (10 March 1777)
# John Bailey (2 June 1777)
# Col. Matthew Smith (28 May 1778)
# James Cunningham (5 January 1781)
# Samuel John Atlee (21 October 1783)
# John Whitehill (22 December 1784)
# George Ross (16 October 1787-21 December 1790)
'York County'
# Jason Edgar (4 November 1777)
# James Ewing (9 February 1779; withdrew a few days later due to questions regarding his election)
# Mr. Thompson (8 March 1779)
# James Ewing (26 October 1781)
# Richard McCallister (McAlister) (26 October 1784)
# Andrew Bellmeyer (Billmeyer) (19 January 1787)
# Samuel Edie (25 October 1787-21 December 1790)
'Cumberland County'
# Jonathan Hoge ( 4 March 1777)
# James McLene (McClean, M’Lean, McLean) (9 November 1778)
# Robert Whitehill (28 December 1779)
# John Buyers (Byers) (20 November 1781)
# Jonathan Hoge (3 November 1784)
# Frederick Watt (26 October 1787-21 December 1790)
'Berks County'
# Jacob Morgan (3 September 1777)
# James Read (1 July 1778)
# Sebastian Levan (31 October 1781)
# Charles Biddle (30 October 1784)
# James Read (13 October 1787-21 December 1790)
'Northampton County'
# George Taylor (4 March 1777)
# Jacob Arndt (Orndt) (8 November 1777)
# John VanCampen (4 November 1780)
# Stephen Balliot (3 November 1783)
# Robert Trail (23 October 1786)
# Jonas Hartzell (20 October 1789-21 December 1790)
'Bedford County'
# Thomas Urie (14 November 1777)
# John Piper (17 November 1780)
# Isaac Meason (Mason) (12 November 1783)
# ''seat vacant approximately one year due to election irregularities''
# George Woods (1 November 1787)
# James Martin (12 November 1789-21 December 1790)
'Northumberland County'
# Capt. John Hambright (Hambidght) (4 November 1777)
# Brig. Gen. James Potter (16 November 1780)
# John Boyd (25 November 1783)
# William McClay (23 October 1786)
# William Wilson (23 October 1789-21 December 1790)
'Westmoreland County'
# John Proctor (4 March 1777)
# Thomas Scott (29 November 1777)
# Christopher Hayes (17 February 1781)
# Bernard Dougherty (11 November 1783)
# John Baird (Beard) (17 November 1786)
# William Findley (25 November 1789-21 December 1790)
'Washington County' (erected 1781)
# Dorsey (Dorset) Pentecost (19 November 1781)
# Gen. John Neville (11 November 1783)
# David Redick (20 November 1786)
# Henry Taylor (3 December 1789-21 December 1790)
'Fayette County' (erected 1783)
# John Woods (6 November 1784)
# John Smilie (2 November 1786)
# Nathaniel Breading (19 November 1789-21 December 1790)
'Franklin County' (erected 1784)
# James McLene (2 February 1785)
# Abraham Smith (24 October 1787-21 December 1790)
'Montgomery County' (erected 1784)
# Daniel Hiester (15 October 1784)
# Peter Muhlenberg (24 October 1785)
# Zebulon Potts (16 October 1788-21 December 1790)
'Dauphin County' (erected 1785)
# William Brown (14 November 1785)
# Christopher Kucher (1 November 1787-21 December 1790)
'Luzerne County' (erected 1786)
# Nathan Dennison (Dennisen) (2 March 1787)
# Lord Butler (30 October 1789-21 December 1790)
'Huntingdon County' (erected 1787)
# John Cannon (21 November 1787)
# Benjamin Elliott (30 December 1789-21 December 1790)
'Allegheny County' (erected 1788)
# Dr. John Wilkins Jr. (20 November 1789-21 December 1790)
A constitutional convention was called in 1789 and a new state constitution was adopted the following year. The 1790 Constitution did away with the Supreme Executive Council and vested supreme executive power in the office of Governor. On 21 December 1790 Thomas Mifflin became the last President of Pennsylvania and the first Governor of the State. (Although the title of Governor had been used during the Colonial era to designate the representative of the monarch or the Proprietor.) The executive branch of the state government has been headed by a governor since that time. The 1790 Constitution made no provision for a Lieutenant Governor. Upon the death or resignation of the Governor the office would be assumed by the Speaker of the State Senate. (This position no longer exists. The modern equivalent is perhaps President of the Senate—an ''ex officio'' position held by the Lieutenant Governor and thus not able to replace the Lieutenant Governor as "second in command".) The office of Lieutenant Governor was created by the 1873 State Constitution and first occupied (by John Latta) in 1875.
| Contents |
| 1776 Constitution |
| Presidents of Council |
| Vice-Presidents of Council |
| Leadership elections |
| Counsellors |
| 1790 Constitution |
| References |
1776 Constitution
The 1776 Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was framed by a constitutional convention called at the urging of the Continental Congress. The convention began work in Philadelphia on 15 July 1776—less than two weeks following adoption of the Declaration of Independence; the Constitution was adopted 28 September of the same year. The document included both ''A Declaration of the Rights of the Inhabitants of the Commonwealth'' and a ''Plan or Frame of Government''. The latter includes forty seven sections, several of which deal with the formation and function of the Supreme Executive Council.Text of 1776 Pennsylvania Constitution from the Pennsylvania State ArchivesText of 1776 Pennsylvania Constitution from the Yale Law SchoolText of 1776, 1790, and 1838 Pennsylvania Constitutions from Jim Means, California University of Pennsylvania
'Section 3:' "The supreme executive power shall be vested in a president and council."
'Section 19:' "For the present the supreme executive council of this state shall consist of twelve persons chosen in the following manner..."
The city of Philadelphia and the eleven counties existing at the time each elected a representative to sit on the Council. These eleven counties were Philadelphia County (at that time a governmental entity distinct from the City of Philadelphia), Chester, Bucks, Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Berks, Northampton, Bedford, Northumberland, and Westmoreland. Seats were added for Washington, Fayette, Franklin, Montgomery, Dauphin, Luzerene, Huntingdon, and Allegheny as those counties were established. It should be noted that many of these counties occupied considerably different—and much larger—territories in the late Eighteenth Century than they do today.
Counsellors were elected to three-year terms; the terms were staggered so that one third would be contested each year. (''Counsellors'' is the spelling used in the Constitution itself, although the word is also rendered ''councillors'', ''councellors'', and ''councilors'' in other documents.) The President and Vice-President of the Council were chosen from those twelve Counsellors, elected to one-year terms by an annual joint ballot of the Council and the General Assembly, generally held in November.
'Section 20:' The Council and its President were given power to
★ appoint judges, attorneys general, naval officers, and other officers
★ fill offices vacant due to death, resignation, removal, or disqualification
★ correspond with other states
★ prepare business to present to the General Assembly
★ serve as judges on cases of impeachment
★ grant pardons and remit fines (except in cases of impeachment)
★ grant reprieves in cases of treason and murder
★ ensure that the laws and other acts of the General Assembly were carried out
★ lay embargoes and prohibit the export of any commodity (in certain circumstances)
Additionally:
★ the President of Council was to serve as commander in chief of the military forces of the state
★ the Council was ordered to keep an accurate record of its procedings
The Supreme Executive Council formally convened 4 March 1777. The first President and Vice-President were elected the following day. The Council sat in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, now known as Independence Hall. It met in what had been the Governor's Council Chamber during British rule. The Executive Council, along with the General Assembly, moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania ahead of the British occupation of Philadelphia in the fall of 1777—the last meeting in Philadelphia took place on 23 September and the first in Lancaster on 1 October. The Council returned to Philadelphia 26 June 1778.
The Council was replaced by a single Governor on 21 December 1790.
Presidents of Council
Seven men served as President of the Supreme Executive Council. (One, George Bryan, was never elected to the position, but today is considered by the Commonwealth to have been a full-fledged governor of Pennsylvania, perhaps due to the length of his term as Acting President.) Several figure prominently in the history of Pennsylvania, but none moreso than Dr. Benjamin Franklin. His presidency was one of his last acts of public service, and he died less than two years after leaving office. Franklin was also the longest serving President, having held the office for slightly over three years. There is some question about the ''de facto'' end of his term, suggesting that the aging Franklin was not actively involved in affairs of state toward the end of his presidency. (This is certainly not a consensus view, as other sources report that all actions of the Council during his term had Franklin's approval, even if that meant convening the Council at Franklin's home.) The shortest term was that of George Bryan, who served as Acting President for just over six months. Although these men may be referred to properly as ''Presidents of Pennsylvania'' their office is analogous to the modern office of Governor, and they are often included in lists of those who have held the latter title.Prior Governors of Pennsylvania from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Presidents and Vice-Presidents were styled ''His Excellency.''
| President | Start of Term | End of Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Wharton Jr. | 5 March 1777 | 23 May 1778 | died in office |
| George Bryan | 23 May 1778 | 1 December 1778 | ''Acting'' President upon death of Wharton |
| Joseph Reed | 1 December 1778 | 15 November 1781 | |
| William Moore | 15 November 1781 | 7 November 1782 | |
| John Dickinson | 7 November 1782 | 18 October 1785 | previously President of Delaware; he did not formally relinquish that title until 12 January 1783 |
| Benjamin Franklin | 18 October 1785 | 5 November 1788 | |
| Thomas Mifflin | 5 November 1788 | 21 December 1790 | became first Governor of Pennsylvania under 1790 Constitution |
The neighborhood of South Philadelphia contains a series of east-west streets named in honor of Pennsylvania's early Governors. Moving south on South 25th Street are Wharton, Reed and Dickinson Streets. (Bryan, never officially elected to the office, is omitted.) Moore Street, out of sequence, follows after two intervening streets (Tasker and Morris). There is no Franklin Street in the immediate neighborhood, although memorials to Franklin are hardly lacking throughout Philadelphia. Moore is followed by Mifflin Street, McKean Street, and Snyder Street. Wharton Street borders Wharton Square Park, although it is not clear if the park is named after Thomas Wharton or another member of his prominent family. Dickinson College and the Dickinson School of Law, both in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, were named after John Dickinson. Dickinson was portrayed, perhaps unflatteringly, as an impediment to Independence in the musical drama 1776, alongside a much more jovial Benjamin Franklin.
Vice-Presidents of Council
Similarly, the office of Vice-President of Pennsylvania is analagous to the modern office of Lieutenant Governor. Of the ten men who held the office, two succeeded to the Presidency (the first—Bryan—''de facto'', the second—Moore—''de jure''). The longest Vice-Presidential term was that of George Bryan; he served over two and a half years, although he also served as Acting President for six months concurrent with his Vice-Presidential term. The shortest term was that of Matthew Smith, who served for twelve days in October 1779.
| Vice-President | Start of Term | End of Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Bryan | 6 March 1777 | 11 October 1779 | served 6 months as Acting Presidentwhile remaining Vice-President; resigned |
| Matthew Smith | 11 October 1779 | 23 October 1779 | resigned |
| William Moore | 11 November 1779 | 14 November 1781 | became President of Council following his term as VP |
| James Potter | 15 November 1781 | 7 November 1782 | (Acting President 8 October-7 November 1782 †) |
| James Ewing | 7 November 1782 | 6 November 1784 | |
| James Irvine | 6 November 1784 | 10 October 1785 | resigned |
| Charles Biddle | 10 October 1785 | 31 October 1787‡ | (Acting President 10-18 October 1785 †) |
| Peter Muhlenberg | 31 October 1787 | 14 October 1788 | resigned |
| David Redick | 14 October 1788 | 5 November 1788 | (Acting President 14 October-5 November 1788 †) |
| George Ross | 5 November 1788 | 21 December 1790 |
† At least one source credits four Vice-Presidents with having served as ''Acting Presidents''.NNDB listing of Pennsylvania Governors, accessed 1 May 2007. However, it must be noted that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania makes no such distinction in its listing of the state's past governors. None of these men was given the title of Acting President during his time in office—each continued to be addressed as Vice-President and were titled ''Acting President'' only after the fact. During George Bryan's term as Acting President the office of President was, in fact, vacant—Thomas Wharton died 23 May 1778 and an election to chose his successor was not held until 1 December—due perhaps to the Council's evacuation to Lancaster during that time. At over seven months, Bryan's tenure was such that today he is considered a full-fledged Governor by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The situations of the three other "Acting Presidents" (Potter, Biddle and Redick) is less clear. The minutes of the Supreme Executive Council contain no indication that the President (Moore, Dickinson and Franklin, respectively) had left, relinquished or been removed from office. During these "Acting Presidencies" the actual President ''was'' indeed absent from Council meetings, which were thus overseen by the Vice-President, but it is not clear what might distinguish these from numerous other periods during which the Vice-President, rather than the President, sat at the head of the Council. It should be noted that each of these "Acting Presidencies" immediately preceded the election of a new President (Dickinson, Franklin, and Mifflin, respectively). It has also been suggested that Benjamin Franklin, by then in his early eighties, was not actively involved in the daily operation of the government near the end of his term, a situation that might have required Charles Biddle to take on a greater role than he would otherwise have had.
‡ The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania reports that Biddle's Vice-Presidential term extended to 31 October 1787, at which time Peter Muhlenberg was elected to the office. However Biddle's term as Counsellor from Berks County ended eighteen days earlier, on 13 October, when he was succeeded by James Read. Although Biddle was no longer a member of Council after 13 October he was elected Secretary of the Council on 23 October.''Minutes of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, from its organization to the termination of the Revolution. [Mar. 4, 1777 - Dec. 20, 1790]''. Harrisburg, Pub. by the State, 1852-53. Vol XI, pp 173-175; Vol XIII, pp 111-114.
Leadership elections
The first election of a President and Vice-President of Pennsylvania took place 5 March 1777. Thereafter, leadership elections took place in the fall, generally in November, following the popular election (held the second Tuesday in October) in which Counsellors and Assemblymen were elected by eligible citizens. Routine elections involved a joint ballot of the Council and the General Assembly. Several other elections were held to fill vacancies resulting from resignation; these involved only a vote by the Council rather than a joint ballot. More often than not, records do not list contenders (other than the winners) or vote tallies, saying simply that a particular gentleman was duly elected President and another Vice-President.
| date | President | Vice-President | purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 March 1777 | 'Thomas Wharton' | 'George Bryan' ‡ | initial election |
| 21 November 1777 | 'Thomas Wharton' | 'George Bryan' | annual election ''(note: only election held in Lancaster)'' |
| 1 December 1778 | 'Joseph Reed' (61)George Bryan (1)James Read (1) | 'George Bryan' (62)Joseph Hart (1) | annual election |
| 11 October 1779 | ------------------ | 'Matthew Smith' | to fill vacancy following Bryan's resignation |
| 11 November 1779 | 'Joseph Reed'William Moore | 'William Moore'James Read | annual election |
| 14 November 1780 | 'Joseph Reed' (59)William Moore (1) | 'William Moore' (53)James Potter (6)General Lacey (1) | annual election |
| 14 November 1781 | 'William Moore'(64) ‡James Ewing (1)James Potter (1)John Lacey (1) | 'James Potter'(38) ‡James Ewing (28) | annual election |
| 7 November 1782 | 'John Dickinson' (41)James Potter (32) | 'James Ewing' (39)James Potter (34) | annual election |
| 6 November 1783 | 'John Dickinson'(unanimous) | 'James Ewing'(unanimous) | annual election |
| 6 November 1784 | 'John Dickinson'John Neville | 'James Irvine'John Neville | annual election |
| 10 October 1785 | ------------------ | 'Charles Biddle' | to fill vacancy following Irvine’s resignation |
| 18 October 1785 | 'Benjamin Franklin'(unanimous) | ------------------ | it is not clear why a replacement for Dickinson was needed.Dickinson's name does not appear in Council minutes after the10 October 1785 meeting that elected Biddle to the Vice-Presidency. |
| 29 October 1785 | 'Benjamin Franklin' | 'Charles Biddle' | annual election |
| 4 November 1786 | 'Benjamin Franklin' | 'Charles Biddle' | |
| 31 October 1787 | 'Benjamin Franklin' | 'Peter Muhlenberg' | annual election |
| 14 October 1788 | ------------------ | 'David Redick' | to fill vacancy following Muhlenberg’s resignation |
| 5 November 1788 | 'Thomas Mifflin' | 'George Ross' | annual election |
| 11 November 1789 | 'Thomas Mifflin'(unanimous) | 'George Ross'(unanimous) | annual election |
‡ Throughout the history of the Council it was standard practice for newly-elected Presidents and Vice-Presidents to take office immediately upon election. However, there were a few instances in which an individual did not take the oath of office until the day following his election. Section 40 of the 1776 Constitution stipulates: “Every officer, whether judicial, executive or military, in authority under this commonwealth, shall take the following…oath of office before he enters on the execution of his office,” meaning that an individual could not assume the duties of his office before taking the necessary oath. Cross referencing the election dates above with the preceding listings of terms in office will thus reveal several slight discrepancies, all resulting from a delayed administration of the oath:
★ George Bryan, elected Vice-President 5 March 1777, took office 6 March.
★ William Moore, elected President 14 November 1781, took office 15 November.
★ James Potter, elected Vice-President 14 November 1781, took office 15 November.
No reasons for the delays are noted in the minutes of the Council. Neither set of dates involved a conflict with the sabbath. There were other delays that involved reelections of men who had already been sworn into office at the start of their previous term. These are not noted here.
Counsellors
Counsellors were elected to represent each county in Pennsylvania as well as the city of Philadelphia. They were elected to three-year terms. Many served less than a full three, while others appear to have served slightly more.† The Council sat year-round and there was no specific date set for the start of a session or of any Counsellor's term. Rather, new Counsellors appear to have begun their terms whenever they were able to travel to Philadelphia following their elections. The general election at that time was held on the second Tuesday in October and most Counsellors took office in late October or in November. In most instances it is easy to fix the date on which a particular Counsellor’s term began, as the Minutes of the Council will note that on a particular date a particular gentleman was administered the oath and admitted to his seat. Many Counsellors had sporadic attendance, and several were absent for a year or more at a time. This was particularly true of representatives from the distant western counties, although the phenomenon was certainly not limited to those gentlemen. Some Counsellors simply sat out the last several months of their terms, their names disappearing from the Minutes by late summer or early autumn. Thus, the following list of Counsellors generally notes only the day on which each began his term; unless indicated otherwise it is assumed that each term extended to the beginning of the next, regardless of the incumbent’s actual attendance. Counsellors were accorded the title of ''Esquire''.
† With the Council set to be dissolved in December 1790, Counsellors whose terms should have expired in October or November of that year remained in office a few additional weeks; new elections were not held. Also, a review of the dates on which Counsellors began their terms will reveal several instances in which more than three years elapsed between the start of successive terms. It is uncertain whether the seat technically became vacant after three years or if the incumbent's term extended to the start of his successor's, even if this meant exceding the three-year term limit.
★ The home counties of two early Counsellors, John Evans and John Lowdan, has not yet been determined. Both were sitting when the Council first convened on 4 March 1777. It appears that one likely represented Chester County and the other York.
'City of Philadelphia'
# George Bryan (4 March 1777)
# William Moore (18 October 1779)
# James Irvine (14 October 1782)
# Benjamin Franklin (17 October 1785)
# Samuel Miles (20 October 1788-21 December 1790)
'Philadelphia County'
# Joseph Wharton (4 March 1777; died in office 23 May 1778)
# Joseph Reed (24 November 1778)
# John Bayard (16 October 1781)
# John Dickinson (4 November 1782)
# Henry Hill (17 October 1785)
# Thomas Mifflin (20 October 1788-21 December 1790)
'Chester County'
# John Mackey (McKay, MacKay, Macky) (21 November 1777)
# Dr. Joseph Gardner (23 October 1779)
# John McDowell (2 November 1782)
# Evan Evans (28 October 1785)
# Richard Willing (16 October 1788-21 December 1790)
'Bucks County'
# Joseph Hart (23 July 1777)
# Gen. John Lacey Jr. (28 October 1779)
# George Wall Jr. (29 October 1782)
# Samuel Dean (1 November 1785)
# Amos Gregg (21 October 1788-21 December 1790)
'Lancaster County'
# John Hubley (10 March 1777)
# John Bailey (2 June 1777)
# Col. Matthew Smith (28 May 1778)
# James Cunningham (5 January 1781)
# Samuel John Atlee (21 October 1783)
# John Whitehill (22 December 1784)
# George Ross (16 October 1787-21 December 1790)
'York County'
# Jason Edgar (4 November 1777)
# James Ewing (9 February 1779; withdrew a few days later due to questions regarding his election)
# Mr. Thompson (8 March 1779)
# James Ewing (26 October 1781)
# Richard McCallister (McAlister) (26 October 1784)
# Andrew Bellmeyer (Billmeyer) (19 January 1787)
# Samuel Edie (25 October 1787-21 December 1790)
'Cumberland County'
# Jonathan Hoge ( 4 March 1777)
# James McLene (McClean, M’Lean, McLean) (9 November 1778)
# Robert Whitehill (28 December 1779)
# John Buyers (Byers) (20 November 1781)
# Jonathan Hoge (3 November 1784)
# Frederick Watt (26 October 1787-21 December 1790)
'Berks County'
# Jacob Morgan (3 September 1777)
# James Read (1 July 1778)
# Sebastian Levan (31 October 1781)
# Charles Biddle (30 October 1784)
# James Read (13 October 1787-21 December 1790)
'Northampton County'
# George Taylor (4 March 1777)
# Jacob Arndt (Orndt) (8 November 1777)
# John VanCampen (4 November 1780)
# Stephen Balliot (3 November 1783)
# Robert Trail (23 October 1786)
# Jonas Hartzell (20 October 1789-21 December 1790)
'Bedford County'
# Thomas Urie (14 November 1777)
# John Piper (17 November 1780)
# Isaac Meason (Mason) (12 November 1783)
# ''seat vacant approximately one year due to election irregularities''
# George Woods (1 November 1787)
# James Martin (12 November 1789-21 December 1790)
'Northumberland County'
# Capt. John Hambright (Hambidght) (4 November 1777)
# Brig. Gen. James Potter (16 November 1780)
# John Boyd (25 November 1783)
# William McClay (23 October 1786)
# William Wilson (23 October 1789-21 December 1790)
'Westmoreland County'
# John Proctor (4 March 1777)
# Thomas Scott (29 November 1777)
# Christopher Hayes (17 February 1781)
# Bernard Dougherty (11 November 1783)
# John Baird (Beard) (17 November 1786)
# William Findley (25 November 1789-21 December 1790)
'Washington County' (erected 1781)
# Dorsey (Dorset) Pentecost (19 November 1781)
# Gen. John Neville (11 November 1783)
# David Redick (20 November 1786)
# Henry Taylor (3 December 1789-21 December 1790)
'Fayette County' (erected 1783)
# John Woods (6 November 1784)
# John Smilie (2 November 1786)
# Nathaniel Breading (19 November 1789-21 December 1790)
'Franklin County' (erected 1784)
# James McLene (2 February 1785)
# Abraham Smith (24 October 1787-21 December 1790)
'Montgomery County' (erected 1784)
# Daniel Hiester (15 October 1784)
# Peter Muhlenberg (24 October 1785)
# Zebulon Potts (16 October 1788-21 December 1790)
'Dauphin County' (erected 1785)
# William Brown (14 November 1785)
# Christopher Kucher (1 November 1787-21 December 1790)
'Luzerne County' (erected 1786)
# Nathan Dennison (Dennisen) (2 March 1787)
# Lord Butler (30 October 1789-21 December 1790)
'Huntingdon County' (erected 1787)
# John Cannon (21 November 1787)
# Benjamin Elliott (30 December 1789-21 December 1790)
'Allegheny County' (erected 1788)
# Dr. John Wilkins Jr. (20 November 1789-21 December 1790)
1790 Constitution
A constitutional convention was called in 1789 and a new state constitution was adopted the following year. The 1790 Constitution did away with the Supreme Executive Council and vested supreme executive power in the office of Governor. On 21 December 1790 Thomas Mifflin became the last President of Pennsylvania and the first Governor of the State. (Although the title of Governor had been used during the Colonial era to designate the representative of the monarch or the Proprietor.) The executive branch of the state government has been headed by a governor since that time. The 1790 Constitution made no provision for a Lieutenant Governor. Upon the death or resignation of the Governor the office would be assumed by the Speaker of the State Senate. (This position no longer exists. The modern equivalent is perhaps President of the Senate—an ''ex officio'' position held by the Lieutenant Governor and thus not able to replace the Lieutenant Governor as "second in command".) The office of Lieutenant Governor was created by the 1873 State Constitution and first occupied (by John Latta) in 1875.
References
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