Josiah O. Wolcott
Josiah O. Wolcott | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chancellor of Delaware | |
| In office July 2, 1921 – November 11, 1938 | |
| Preceded by | Charles M. Curtis |
| Succeeded by | W. W. Harrington |
| United States Senator from Delaware | |
| In office March 4, 1917 – July 2, 1921 | |
| Preceded by | Henry A. du Pont |
| Succeeded by | T. Coleman du Pont |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 31, 1877 Dover, Delaware |
| Died | November 11, 1938 (aged 61) Dover, Delaware |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence(s) | Dover, Delaware |
| Alma mater | Wesleyan University |
| Profession | lawyer |
Josiah Oliver Wolcott (October 31, 1877 - November 11, 1938) was an American lawyer, politician and judge, from Dover, in Kent County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served as Attorney General of Delaware, U.S. Senator from Delaware, and Chancellor of Delaware.
Early life and family
Wolcott was born in Dover, Delaware, attended the Wilmington Conference Academy, now Wesley College, at Dover, and graduated from Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut. He was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1904 and began the practice of law at Wilmington, Delaware.
Professional and political career
Wolcott was Deputy Delaware Attorney General from 1909 until 1913, elected Delaware Attorney General in 1912 and served from January 21, 1913, until January 16, 1917.
In the first popular election of a U.S. Senator in Delaware, he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1916, defeating incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Henry A. du Pont. During this term, Wolcott served with the Democratic majority in the 65th Congress, but was in the minority in the 66th and 67th Congress. In the 65th Congress he was Chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of Commerce. Between 1918 and 1919, he served on the Overman Committee, investigating seditious German and Bolshevik activities. In all, he served from March 4, 1917 to July 2, 1921, during the administrations of U.S. Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Warren G. Harding.
On July 2, 1921, Wolcott resigned from the U.S. Senate to accept a surprising appointment from Republican Governor William D. Denney to become Chancellor of the Delaware Court of Chancery. The appointment came to be known as the "deal" or the "dirty deal," and many suspected T. Coleman du Pont organized it in order to gain the U.S. Senate seat for himself and the Republican Party. Wolcott served as Chancellor for the remainder of his life.
Death and legacy
Wolcott died at Dover and is buried there in the Lakeside Methodist Episcopal Cemetery.
According to Henry R. Horsey and William Duffy in their article on the Delaware Court system, Wolcott distinguished himself as Chancellor and they continued: Chancellery "Judge Pearson later recalled the spartan 'office' of Chancellor Wolcott, consisting of a small desk and gooseneck lamp, in the stacks of the State Law Library in Dover. There Wolcott worked without a secretary, writing his opinions in longhand. Pearson attributed Wolcott's conduct to his determination to ask for nothing. It was during Wolcott's tenure that Delaware's Court of Chancery gained the high regard and respect of lawyers and corporate boards throughout the country. It was Wolcott's judicial wisdom and judgment that first attracted lawyers and litigants from around the nation to Delaware as a preferred forum for litigation."
Every year, five students in their final year at Widener University School of Law are awarded the Josiah Oliver Wolcott Fellowship. This prestigious fellowship allows its recipients to work as part time judicial clerks for the Supreme Court of Delaware or the Delaware Court of Chancery.
Almanac
Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1st. U.S. Senators are popularly elected and took office March 4th for a six year term.
| Public Offices | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office | Type | Location | Began office | Ended office | notes |
| Attorney General | Executive | Dover | January 21, 1913 | January 16, 1917 | Delaware |
| U.S. Senator | Legislative | Washington | March 4, 1917 | July 2, 1921 | resigned |
| Chancellor | Judiciary | Dover | July 2, 1921 | November 11, 1938 | State Chancery Court |
| United States Congressional service | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dates | Congress | Chamber | Majority | President | Committees | Class/District |
| 1917–1919 | 65th | U.S. Senate | Democratic | Woodrow Wilson | class 1 | |
| 1919–1921 | 66th | U.S. Senate | Republican | Woodrow Wilson | class 1 | |
| 1921–1923 | 67th | U.S. Senate | Republican | Warren G. Harding | class 1 | |
| Election results | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Office | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||
| 1916 | U.S. Senator | Josiah O. Wolcott | Democratic | 25,434 | 50% | Henry A. du Pont Hiram R. Burton |
Republican Independent |
22,925 2,361 |
46% 5% | ||
References
- Carter, Richard B. (2001). Clearing New Ground, The Life of John G. Townsend, Jr. Wilmington, Delaware: The Delaware Heritage Press. ISBN 0-924117-20-6.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Hoffecker, Carol E. (2004). Democracy in Delaware. Wilmington, Delaware: Cedar Tree Books. ISBN 1-892142-23-6.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Munroe, John A. (1993). History of Delaware. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press. ISBN 0-87413-493-5.
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Images
External links
- Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Delaware’s Members of Congress
- Find a Grave
- The Political Graveyard
- The Supreme Court of Delaware until 1951
Places with more information
- Delaware Historical Society; website; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; (302) 655-7161
- University of Delaware; Library website; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; (302) 831-2965