Henry Latimer (senator)
| Henry Latimer | |
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United States Senator from Delaware |
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In office February 7, 1795 – February 28, 1801 |
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| Preceded by | George Read |
| Succeeded by | Samuel White |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Delaware's At-large district |
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In office February 14, 1794 – February 7, 1795 |
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| Preceded by | John Patten |
| Succeeded by | John Patten |
| Member of the Delaware General Assembly | |
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In office October 20, 1787 - October 20, 1791 |
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| Continental Congressman from Delaware |
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In office April 8, 1784 – June 3, 1784 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
April 24, 1752 Newport, Delaware |
| Died | December 19, 1819 (aged 67) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Political party | Federalist |
| Spouse(s) | Ann Richardson |
| Residence | Newport, Delaware |
| Alma mater |
College of Philadelphia University of Edinburgh Medical School |
| Profession | physician |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
Dr. Henry Latimer (April 24, 1752 – December 19, 1819) was an American physician and politician from Newport, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was elected to the Continental Congress from Delaware, and was a member of the Federalist Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly, as U.S. Representative from Delaware, and U.S. Senator from Delaware.
Latimer was born in Newport, Delaware, son of James Latimer, Sr. and Sarah Geddes. His father was a wealthy grain shipper and politician, who was a member of the House of Assembly in the 1778/79 session and a member of the Delaware convention that ratified the U.S. Constitution on December 7, 1787. Latimer's brother, George, also served in the House of Assembly from the 1779/80 session through the 1781/82 session. Later he moved to Philadelphia where he became Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1794.
Latimer studied medicine, and attended the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania) in Philadelphia and graduated in 1770, going to University of Edinburgh Medical School in Scotland in 1775 to complete his education. Returning in the midst of the American Revolution, he served in the "Flying Hospital," a mobile surgical unit of the Continental Army. He was at the Battle of Brandywine and continued through the end of the war.
Elected to the Continental Congress on April 8, 1784, Latimer never attended the session that spring in Annapolis, Maryland and was replaced. Like his father and brother, he was elected to the House of Assembly and served from the 1787/88 session through the 1790/91 session. He was the Speaker in that last session.
Latimer lost the 1792 election for the U.S. House to Major John Patten by thirty votes, but contested Patton's election to the U.S. House. The Federalist majority there reviewed the ballots cast, and based on a confusing law requiring the names of two candidates on the ballot, disqualified enough of Patton's votes to award the seat to Latimer. Amidst considerable bitterness, he was seated February 14, 1794. After once again losing an election to Patten in 1794, Latimer resigned from the U.S. House on February 7, 1795 when he was elected by the Delaware General Assembly to the disputed and long vacant U.S. Senate seat of retired U.S. Senator George Read. After finishing Read's term, he was reelected in 1796, and served until February 28, 1801, when he also resigned. Some believe that the reason for his resignation was that he was unhappy over the tactics of his political opponents who were still bitter over the circumstances of the contested election in 1792.
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