Robert J. Reynolds | |
Office1: | 47th Governor of Delaware |
Term Start1: | January 20, 1891 |
Term End1: | January 15, 1895 |
Predecessor1: | Benjamin T. Biggs |
Successor1: | Joshua H. Marvil |
Office2: | Member of the Delaware House of Representatives |
Term Start2: | January 6, 1869 |
Term End2: | January 6, 1871 |
Birth Date: | March 17, 1838 |
Birth Place: | Smyrna, Delaware, U.S. |
Death Place: | Kent County, Delaware, U.S. |
Spouse: | Louvenia Riggs Hester Thomas |
Party: | Democratic |
Residence: | Kent County, Delaware |
Occupation: | Farmer |
Signature: | Signature of Robert John Reynolds.png |
Robert John Reynolds (March 17, 1838 – June 10, 1909) was an American politician from Petersburg in South Murderkill Hundred, Kent County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly, and as Governor of Delaware.
Reynolds was born in Smyrna, Delaware, son of Robert Wright and Sallie Gilder Marvel Reynolds. He married Louvenia Riggs and had one child, Byron, and later married Hester Thomas, with whom he had no children. They lived at "Golden Ridge", near Petersburg in South Murderkill Hundred, Kent County, Delaware and were members of the Methodist Church.
Reynolds was elected to the State House in 1868 and served the 1869/70 session. From 1879 until 1883 he was state treasurer, and in 1890 was elected the Governor of Delaware, defeating Harry A. Richardson, the Republican candidate. He served from January 20, 1891, until January 15, 1895.
During these years free textbooks were first provided to public school students, and Delaware State College was established in Dover.
Reynolds died at his home near Petersburg at South Murderkill Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, and is buried at the Loudon Park Cemetery, in Baltimore, Maryland.
Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. 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.
Delaware General Assembly (sessions while Governor) | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Assembly | Senate Majority | Speaker | House Majority | Speaker | ||||||
1891–1892 | 86th | Democratic | John P. Donohoe | Democratic | William L. Sirman | ||||||
1893–1894 | 87th | Democratic | Charles B. Houston | Democratic | J. Harvey Whiteman | ||||||
Public Offices | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Office | Type | Location | Began office | Ended office | notes | |
State Representative | Legislature | Dover | January 6, 1869 | January 6, 1871 | ||
State Treasurer | Executive | Dover | 1879 | 1883 | ||
Governor | Executive | Dover | January 20, 1891 | January 15, 1895 |