Ebe Walter Tunnell (December 31 1844 – December 13 1917) was an American merchant and politician from Lewes, in Sussex County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly and as Governor of Delaware.

Early life and family

Tunnell was born December 31 1844 at Blackwater, near Clarksville, now Ocean View, Sussex County, Delaware, son of Nathaniel and Maria Walters Tunnell. After attending the public schools at Milford, Delaware and Lewes, he ran the Blackwater general store started by his grandfather. Moving to Lewes in 1872, he operated a drug and hardware business there. He was one of only two Governors who never married and was a member of the Lewes Presbyterian Church.

Governor of Delaware

Tunnell was a member of the Delaware House of Representatives in the 1871/72 session and Clerk of the Peace for Sussex County from 1885 through 1890. He was the unsuccessful Democratic Party candidate for Governor of Delaware in 1894, losing to the Republican Party candidate, Joshua H. Marvil. Two years later, in 1896, he was elected Governor, defeating the Union (Addicks) Republican Party candidate, James R. Hoffecker, and the regular Republican Party candidate John C. Higgins. He served one term as Governor from January 19 1897 until January 15 1901.

During his term of office the present State Constitution, the Delaware Constitution of 1897 was written and adopted. It provided some additional representation for New Castle County in the Delaware General Assembly, but actually reduced the representation of Wilmington which by then was the most populous part of Delaware. Among many other changes it created the office of Lieutenant Governor, allowed Governors to be elected to a second term and gave him the veto, reduced judge's terms from life to twelve years, and eliminated the poll tax. It was also during his term that the General Incorporation Law was passed, creating the favorable business environment that has resulted in Delaware becoming the preferred place in the U.S. for companies to incorporate.

Delaware General Assembly (sessions while Governor)
Year	Assembly		Senate Majority	Speaker		House Majority	Speaker
1897-1898	89th		Democratic	Hezekiah Harrington		Democratic	Emery B. Riggin
1899-1900	90th		Democratic	Charles M. Salmon		Republican	Theodore F. Clark

Death and legacy

After his term ended, Tunnell returned to Lewes, where he became President of the Farmers' Bank of Delaware, a director of the Delaware, Maryland and Virginia Railroad, and owner of the Delaware Pilot. He died December 13 1917 at Lewes, Delaware, and is buried there, in the Lewes Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

Almanac

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1st. Members of the Delaware General Assembly took office the first Tuesday of January. State Representatives have a two year term. The Governor takes office the third Tuesday of January and has a four year term.

Public Offices
Office	Type	Location	Elected	Term began	Term ended	notes
State Representative	Legislature	Dover	1870	January 3 1871	January 7 1873
Clerk of the Peace	Executive	Georgetown		1885	1890	Sussex County
Governor	Executive	Dover	1896	January 19 1897	January 15 1901

Delaware General Assembly service
Dates	Assembly	Chamber	Majority	Governor	Committees	District
1871-1872	76th	State House	Democratic	James Ponder		Sussex at-large

Election results
Year	Office		Subject	Party	Votes	%		Opponent	Party	Votes	%
1894	Governor		Ebe W. Tunnell	Democratic	18,659	47%		Joshua H. Marvil	Republican	19,880	50%
1896	Governor		Ebe W. Tunnell	Democratic	15,507	44%		James R. Hoffecker John C. Higgins	Union Republican Republican	11,014 7,154	31% 20%

References

• Conrad, Henry C. (1908). History of the State of Delaware. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Wickersham Company.
• Hoffecker, Carol E. (2004). Democracy in Delaware. Wilmington, Delaware: Cedar Tree Books. ISBN 1-892142-23-6.
• Martin, Roger A. (1984). A History of Delaware Through its Governors. Wilmington, Delaware: McClafferty Press.
• Martin, Roger A. (1995). Memoirs of the Senate. Newark, Delaware: Roger A. Martin.

Images

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

External links

• Ebe W. Tunnell at the Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States
• Ebe W. Tunnell at the Political Graveyard
• Ebe W. Tunnell at Delaware’s Governors

Places with more information

• Historical Society of Delaware, 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware (302) 655-7161
• University of Delaware Library, 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 831-2965