Josiah O. Wolcott

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 October 31 1877 in Dover, Delaware, attended the Wilmington Conference Academy, now Wesley College, at Dover, Delaware and graduated from Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut. He was admitted to the Bar in 1904 and began the practice of law at Wilmington, Delaware.

Political career

Wolcott was Deputy Attorney General of Delaware from 1909 until 1913, elected Attorney General of Delaware 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. 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 Delaware. 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 November 11 1938 at Dover, Delaware and is buried at Lakeside Methodist Cemetery, Dover.

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."

Public offices

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1st. U.S. Senators have a term of six years and took office March 4th.

Office	Type	Location	Elected	Term began	Term ended	notes	notes
State Attorney General	Executive	Dover	1912	January 21 1913	January 16 1917
U.S. Senator	Legislative	Washington	1916	March 4 1917	July 2 1921	class 1	resigned
Chancellor	Judiciary	Dover		July 2 1921	November 11 1938

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.
• Hoffecker, Carol E. (2004). Democracy in Delaware. Wilmington, Delaware: Cedar Tree Books. ISBN 1-892142-23-6.
• Munroe, John A. (1993). History of Delaware. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press. ISBN 0-87413-493-5.

Images

• Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress

External links

• Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress
• Delaware’s Senators
• Find a Grave
• The Political Graveyard
• The Supreme Court of Delaware until 1951

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

United States Congress Senate • Senators • Senate Leadership • Senate Committees • Senate elections House • Representatives • House Leadership • House Committees • House elections • Districts 65th Congress • 66th Congress • 67th Congress