WILLIAM THARP

'William Tharp' (November 27 1803 – January 9 1865) was an American farmer and politician from Milford, in Kent County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly and as Governor of Delaware.

Contents

Early Life and Family

Political career

Death and Legacy

Public offices

Election results

References

Images

External links

Places with more information

Early Life and Family

Tharp was born November 27 1803 in Farmington, Delaware, son of James and Eunice Fleming Tharp. His great grandfather had settled near Frankford, Delaware in 1735. He married Mary A. Johnson, and they had five children: Ruth, Mary Elizabeth, Martina, Williamina, and Ann Purnell. It was through his wife that he inherited his first home on U.S. Highway 13 at Farmington. When he was elected Governor they moved to Milford and lived at the northeast corner of Church and Front Streets. They were members of Christ Episcopal Church in Milford.

Political career

Tharp was elected to the Delaware State Senate and served in the 1839/40 and 1841/42 sessions. He sought reelection to the State Senate in 1842, but after a months long recount, was found to have lost by 1 vote. He then ran for Governor in 1844, but lost again to the Whig Party candidate, Thomas Stockton. He ran again in 1846, and was finally elected, by defeating Peter F. Causey, the Whig Party candidate. He served as Governor from January 19 1847 until January 21 1851.
Following his term, Tharp continued his agricultural businesses and in 1852, was Treasurer of the Delaware Railroad.

Death and Legacy

Tharp died January 9 1865 at Milford, Delaware, and is buried there, at the Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery. He was the grandfather of future Governor of Delaware William T. Watson.

Public offices

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1st. Members of the Delaware General Assembly took office the first Tuesday of January. State Senators have a four year term. The Governor takes office the third Tuesday of January and has a four year term.
{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
|-bgcolor=#cccccc
! 'Office'
! 'Type'
! 'Location'
! 'Elected'
! 'Took Office'
! 'Left Office'
! 'notes'
|-
|State Senator
|Legislature
|Dover
|1838
|January 6 1839
|January 6 1843
|
|-
|Governor
|Executive
|Dover
|1858
|January 19 1847
|January 21 1851
|

Election results

{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
|-bgcolor=#cccccc
!'Year'
!'Office'
!
!'Subject'
!'Party'
!'Votes'
!'%'
!
!'Opponent'
!'Party'
!'Votes'
!'%'
|-
|1844
|Governor
|
| |William Tharp
| |Democratic
| |6,095
| |50%
|
| |Thomas Stockton
| |Whig
| |6,140
| |50%
|-
|1846
|Governor
|
| |William Tharp
| |Democratic
| |6,148
| |51%
|
| |Peter F. Causey
| |Whig
| |6,012
| |49%

References

★ Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States 1789-1978, , Robert, Sobel, Greenwood Press, 1988, ISBN 0-930466-00-4

★ History of Delaware 1609-1888. 2 vols., , John Thomas, Scharf, L. J. Richards & Co., 1888, ISBN 0-87413-493-5

★ History of the State of Delaware, , Henry C., Conrad, Wickersham Company, 1908,

★ A History of Delaware Through its Governors, , Roger A., Martin, McClafferty Press, 1984,

★ Memoirs of the Senate, , Roger A., Martin, Roger A. Martin, 1995,

Images

★ Hall of Governors Portrait Gallery ''Portrait courtesy of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Dover.''

External links

★ Delaware’s Governors [1]

★ Find a Grave [2]

★ History of Delaware 1609-1888 [3]

★ National Governors Association [4]

★ The Political Graveyard [5]

Places with more information

★ Historical Society of Delaware [6] 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware (302) 655-7161

★ University of Delaware Library [7] 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 831-2965