13th United States Congress

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13th United States Congress
12th ←
→ 14th
US Capitol 1814c.jpg
The Capitol after the August 1814 burning of Washington, D.C., by the British in the War of 1812 (painting 1814 by George Munger)
March 4, 1813 – March 4, 1815
Members36 senators
182 representatives
4 non-voting delegates
Senate MajorityDemocratic-Republican
Senate PresidentElbridge Gerry (DR)
(until November 23, 1814)
Vacant
(from November 23, 1814)
House MajorityDemocratic-Republican
House SpeakerHenry Clay (DR)
Langdon Cheves (DR)
Sessions
1st: May 24, 1813 – August 2, 1813
2nd: December 6, 1813 – April 18, 1814
3rd: September 19, 1814 – March 3, 1815

The 13th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1813, to March 4, 1815, during the fifth and sixth years of James Madison's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the Third Census of the United States in 1810. Both chambers had a Democratic-Republican majority. The first two sessions were held at the Capitol building while the third, convened after the Burning of Washington, took place in the First Patent Building.

Senate President
Elbridge Gerry
Elbridge Gerry
Senate presidents pro tempore
William H. Crawford
William H. Crawford
Joseph B. Varnum
Joseph B. Varnum
Joseph B. Varnum
John Gaillard
House Speakers
Henry Clay
Henry Clay
Langdon Cheves
Langdon Cheves

Major events[]

After the Burning of Washington in August 1814, Congress convened its third session in the U.S. Patent Office building, located in Blodget's Hotel.
Main articles: 1813, 1814, and 1815
  • September 10, 1813: War of 1812: Battle of Lake Erie
  • October 5, 1813: War of 1812: Battle of the Thames
  • March 27, 1814: Creek War: Battle of Horseshoe Bend
  • July 25, 1814: War of 1812: Battle of Lundy's Lane
  • August 25, 1814: War of 1812: Burning of Washington
  • September 11, 1814: War of 1812: Battle of Lake Champlain
  • September 13, 1814: War of 1812: Bombardment of Fort McHenry at Baltimore
  • November 7, 1814: War of 1812: Forces under Gen. Andrew Jackson seized Pensacola
  • November 23, 1814: Vice President Elbridge Gerry died
  • December 15, 1814: Hartford Convention convened through January 5, 1815, in which New England Federalists met to discuss their grievances concerning the ongoing War of 1812 and the political problems arising from the federal government's increasing power. Despite radical outcries among Federalists for New England secession and a separate peace with Great Britain, moderates outnumbered them and extreme proposals were not a major focus of the debate.
  • December 24, 1814: War of 1812: Treaty of Ghent signed
  • January 8, 1815: War of 1812: Battle of New Orleans

Major legislation[]

Main article: List of United States federal legislation § 13th United States Congress

Treaties ratified[]

  • February 17, 1815: War of 1812: Senate ratified the Treaty of Ghent, 8 Stat. 218

Party summary[]

The count below identifies party affiliations at the beginning of the first session of this congress. Changes resulting from subsequent replacements are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section.

Senate[]

Party
(shading shows control) 		Total Vacant
Democratic-
Republican
(DR) 		Federalist
(F)
End of previous congress 30 6 36 0
Begin 27 6 33 3
End 25 10 351
Final voting share 71.4% 28.6%
Beginning of next congress 21 12 33 3

House of Representatives[]

Following the 1810 census, the size of the House was increased to 182 seats from 142.

Party
(shading shows control) 		Total Vacant
Democratic-
Republican
(DR) 		Federalist
(F)
End of previous congress 105 36 141 1
Begin 108 68 176 6
End 115 67 1820
Final voting share 63.2% 36.8%
Beginning of next congress 131 46 177 5

Leadership[]

Senate[]

  • President: Elbridge Gerry (DR), until November 23, 1814; thereafter vacant.
  • President pro tempore: William H. Crawford (DR), March 4, 1813 – March 23, 1813
    • Joseph B. Varnum (DR), December 6, 1813 – February 3, 1814
    • John Gaillard (DR), from November 25, 1814

House of Representatives[]

  • Speaker: Henry Clay (DR), until January 19, 1814
    • Langdon Cheves, (DR), from January 19, 1814

Members[]

This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed by class, and representatives are listed by district.

Senate[]

Senators were elected by the state legislatures every two years, with one-third beginning new six-year terms with each Congress. Preceding the names in the list below are Senate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their election. In this Congress, Class 1 meant their term ended with this Congress, requiring reelection in 1814; Class 2 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1816; and Class 3 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1818.

House of Representatives[]

Changes in membership[]

The count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this Congress.

Senate[]

  • Replacements: 9
    • Democratic-Republicans: 2 seat net loss
    • Federalists: 2 seat net gain
  • Deaths: 2
  • Resignations: 10
  • Interim appointments: 3
  • Vacancies: 3
  • Total seats with changes: 15
See also: List of special elections to the United States Senate
State
(class) 		Vacated by Reason for change Successor Date of successor's
formal installation[a]
New Hampshire
(3) 		Vacant Legislature had failed to elect a Senator.
Successor was appointed April 2, 1813 to continue the term. 		Charles Cutts (DR) Appointed April 2, 1813
Maryland
(3) 		Vacant Legislature had failed to elect a Senator.
Successor was elected late May 21, 1813 to finish the term. 		Robert H. Goldsborough (F) Seated May 21, 1813
Delaware
(2) 		Vacant James A. Bayard (F) resigned at the end of the previous Congress.
Successor elected May 28, 1813 to finish the term. 		William H. Wells (F) Seated May 28, 1813
Georgia
(2) 		William H. Crawford (DR) Resigned March 23, 1813.
Successor appointed April 8, 1813, to continue the term. 		William Bulloch (DR) Seated April 8, 1813
Connecticut
(3) 		Chauncey Goodrich (F) Resigned May 1813 to become Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut.
Successor elected May 13, 1813, to finish the term. 		David Daggett (F) Seated May 13, 1813
Massachusetts
(1) 		James Lloyd (F) Resigned May 1, 1813.
Successor elected May 5, 1813. 		Christopher Gore (F) Seated May 5, 1813
New Hampshire
(3) 		Charles Cutts (DR) Interim appointee was not elected.
Successor elected June 10, 1813. 		Jeremiah Mason (F) Seated June 10, 1813
Georgia
(2) 		William Bulloch (DR) Interim appointee was not elected to finish the term.
Successor elected November 6, 1813 to finish the term. 		William W. Bibb (DR) Seated November 6, 1813
Tennessee
(2) 		George W. Campbell (DR) Resigned February 11, 1814 after being appointed US Secretary of the Treasury.
Successor appointed March 17, 1814, to continue the term. 		Jesse Wharton (DR) Seated March 17, 1814
Pennsylvania
(1) 		Michael Leib (DR) Resigned February 14, 1814 after becoming Postmaster of Philadelphia.
Successor elected February 24, 1814, to finish term. 		Jonathan Roberts (DR) Seated February 24, 1814
New Hampshire
(2) 		Nicholas Gilman (DR) Died May 2, 1814.
Successor elected June 24, 1814, to finish the term. 		Thomas W. Thompson (F) Seated June 24, 1814
Kentucky
(2) 		George M. Bibb (DR) Resigned August 23, 1814.
Successor appointed August 30, 1814, to continue the term. 		George Walker (DR) Seated August 30, 1814
Ohio
(1) 		Thomas Worthington (DR) Resigned December 1, 1814 after being elected Governor.
Successor elected December 10, 1814, to finish the term ending. 		Joseph Kerr (DR) Seated December 10, 1814
Kentucky
(2) 		George Walker (DR) Interim appointee was not elected to finish term.
Successor elected December 16, 1814 to finish term. 		William T. Barry (DR) Seated December 16, 1814
North Carolina
(3) 		David Stone (DR) Resigned December 24, 1814.
Successor elected December 24, 1814, to finish the term, but failed to qualify. 		Francis Locke Jr. Never seated for failing to qualify
Kentucky
(3) 		Jesse Bledsoe (DR) Resigned December 24, 1814.
Successor elected February 2, 1815, to finish the term. 		Isham Talbot (DR) Seated February 2, 1815
Virginia
(1) 		Richard Brent (DR) Died December 30, 1814.
Winner elected January 2, 1815, to finish term, having already won election to the next term. 		James Barbour (DR) Seated January 2, 1815
Virginia
(2) 		William B. Giles (DR) Resigned March 3, 1815.
Successor was not elected until the next Congress. 		Vacant for remainder of this Congress.

House of Representatives[]

  • Replacements: 13
    • Democratic-Republicans: 17-seat net gain
    • Federalists: 2-seat net loss
  • Deaths: 6
  • Resignations: 13
  • Contested election: 1
  • Vacancies: 4
  • Total seats with changes: 19
Main article: List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives
District Vacated by Reason for change Successor Date of successor's
formal installation[a]
Kentucky
8th 		Vacant Rep.-elect John Simpson died before this Congress began Stephen Ormsby (DR) Seated May 28, 1813
Ohio
6th 		Vacant Rep.-elect John Stark Edwards died before this Congress began Reasin Beall (DR) Seated June 8, 1813
Pennsylvania
15th 		Vacant Rep.-elect Abner Lacock resigned before commencement of Congress after being elected US Senator Thomas Wilson (DR) Seated May 28, 1813
Pennsylvania
13th 		Vacant Rep.-elect John Smilie died before this Congress began Isaac Griffin (DR) Seated May 24, 1813
New York
15th 		Vacant Rep-elect William Dowse died on February 18, 1813 John M. Bowers (F) Seated June 21, 1813
Ohio
3rd 		Vacant Duncan McArthur Resigned April 5, 1813, having not qualified William Creighton Jr. (DR) Seated June 15, 1813
Pennsylvania
5th 		Robert Whitehill (DR) Died April 8, 1813 John Rea (DR) Seated May 28, 1813
New York
2nd 		Egbert Benson (F) Resigned August 2, 1813 William Irving (DR) Seated January 22, 1814
Pennsylvania
3rd 		John Gloninger (F) Resigned August 2, 1813 Edward Crouch (DR) Seated December 6, 1813
Pennsylvania
7th 		John M. Hyneman (DR) Resigned August 2, 1813 Daniel Udree (DR) Seated December 6, 1813
Illinois Territory
at-large 		Shadrach Bond Until August 2, 1813 Benjamin Stephenson Seated November 14, 1814
Georgia
at-large 		William W. Bibb (DR) Resigned November 6, 1813, after being elected to US Senate Alfred Cuthbert (DR) Seated February 7, 1814
New York
15th 		John M. Bowers (F) Contested election, Bowers ousted on December 20, 1813 Isaac Williams Jr. (DR) Seated January 24, 1814
Tennessee
5th 		Felix Grundy (DR) Resigned in July 1814 Newton Cannon (DR) Seated October 15, 1814
Kentucky
2nd 		Henry Clay (DR) Resigned January 19, 1814 Joseph H. Hawkins (DR) Seated March 29, 1814
Massachusetts
12th 		Daniel Dewey (F) Resigned February 24, 1814, after being appointed Associate Judge of Massachusetts Supreme Court John W. Hulbert (F) Seated September 26, 1814
Pennsylvania
2nd 		Jonathan Roberts (DR) Resigned February 24, 1814, after being elected US Senator Samuel Henderson (F) Seated November 29, 1814
Virginia
11th 		John Dawson (DR) Died March 31, 1814 Philip P. Barbour (DR) Seated September 19, 1814
Massachusetts
4th 		William M. Richardson (DR) Resigned April 18, 1814 Samuel Dana (DR) Seated September 22, 1814
New Jersey
3rd 		Jacob Hufty (F) Died May 20, 1814 Thomas Bines (DR) Seated November 2, 1814
Ohio
6th 		Reasin Beall (DR) Resigned June 7, 1814 David Clendenin (DR) Seated December 22, 1814
Pennsylvania
3rd 		James Whitehill (DR) Resigned September 1, 1814 Amos Slaymaker (F) Seated December 12, 1814
Missouri Territory
at-large 		Edward Hempstead Until September 17, 1814 Rufus Easton Seated November 16, 1814

Committees[]

Lists of committees and their party leaders.

Senate[]

House of Representatives[]

  • Accounts (Chairman: Israel Pickens then Nicholas R. Moore then John Kershaw)
  • (Select)
  • Claims (Chairman: Stevenson Archer then Bartlett Yancey)
  • Commerce and Manufactures (Chairman: Thomas Newton Jr.)
  • District of Columbia (Chairman: John Dawson)
  • Elections (Chairman: James Fisk)
  • Judiciary (Chairman: Charles J. Ingersoll)
  • (Chairman: Samuel D. Ingham then John J. Chappell)
  • Post Office and Post Roads (Chairman: John Rhea)
  • Public Expenditures (Chairman: James Pleasants then Nathaniel Macon)
  • Public Lands (Chairman: Samuel McKee)
  • Revisal and Unfinished Business (Chairman: Willis Alston then Lewis Condict then Richard Stanford)
  • Rules (Select)
  • Standards of Official Conduct
  • Ways and Means (Chairman: John W. Eppes)
  • Whole

Joint committees[]

  • Enrolled Bills (Chairman: N/A)
  • The Library (Chairman: N/A)

Employees[]

  • Librarian of Congress: Patrick Magruder

Senate[]

  • Chaplain: John Brackenridge (Presbyterian), until September 27, 1814
    • Jesse Lee, Methodist, elected September 27, 1814
  • Secretary: Samuel A. Otis, until April 22, 1814
    • Charles Cutts, elected October 12, 1814
  • Sergeant at Arms:

House of Representatives[]

  • Chaplain: Jesse Lee (Methodist), until September 27, 1814
    • Obadiah B. Brown (Baptist), elected September 27, 1814
  • Clerk: Patrick Magruder, until January 30, 1815
    • , elected January 30, 1815
  • Doorkeeper: Thomas Claxton
  • Reading Clerks:[data unknown/missing]
  • Sergeant at Arms:

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ a b When seated or oath administered, not necessarily when service began.

References[]

  1. ^ Guide to US Elections. Vol. II (Sixth ed.). Washington, D.C.: CQ Press. 2010. p. 1421. ISBN 978-1-60426-536-1.
  • Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
  • Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.

External links[]

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