Joseph Haslet
| Joseph Haslet | |
|---|---|
| Governor of Delaware | |
|
In office January 21, 1823 – June 20, 1823 |
|
| Preceded by | Caleb Rodney |
| Succeeded by | Charles Thomas |
|
In office January 15, 1811 – January 18, 1814 |
|
| Preceded by | George Truitt |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Rodney |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1769 Milford, Delaware |
| Died |
(aged 53–54) Sussex County, Delaware |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Draper Rachael Hickman |
| Residence | Sussex County, Delaware |
| Occupation | planter |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
Joseph Haslet (1769 – June 20, 1823) was an American planter and politician from Cedar Creek Village in Cedar Creek Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, who served twice as Governor of Delaware.
Haslet was born in Milford, Delaware, son of Colonel John Haslet and Jemima Molleston Brinkle Haslet. Colonel John Haslet was the commander of the Delaware Regiment in the Continental Army and was killed at the Battle of Princeton in January 1777. Jemima Haslet died a month later "of an inflammation in the throat and lungs." Chief Justice William Killen became guardian for the children and eventually Joseph was apprenticed to a watchmaker in Wilmington. After he came of age he bought a farm in Cedar Creek Hundred in Sussex County. He first married Mary Draper, with whom he had one child, Nathaniel. He later married Rachel Hickman and they had at least three children.
Haslet ran for governor in 1804, losing to the Federalist candidate, Nathaniel Mitchell, and again in 1807, again losing to the Federalist candidate, George Truitt. Finally, in 1810 he squeaked out a victory against Federalist candidate Daniel Rodney and began his first term as Governor of Delaware, serving from January 15, 1811 until January 18, 1814.
The War of 1812 was the central event of Haslet's tenure as governor. Entry into the War of 1812 was not met with much approval from Federalist Delaware, but Haslet was a Democrat and called the General Assembly into special session to raise militia. Carol Hoffecker in Democracy in Delaware describes him saying: "'Without your aid,' the governor told the predominantly Federalist legislators, 'compliance is impossible.' The militia was in shambles, he said, without arms or organization. But he was certain that Delaware would rise to the challenge. 'In this state it is not a question of whether the authority of the United States is to be respected. The State of Delaware will never hesitate to cooperate with her sister states in defending the common rights of the nation.'" The General Assembly then voted to create a 1,000 man militia and appropriated $25,000 to equip them.
At first, there were several exciting naval victories, including the capture of the British ship Frolic by Captain Jacob Jones of Smyrna, Delaware. He was brother-in-law of former Governor James Sykes. By February 1813, however, the British sent fleets into both the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays. For protection an encampment was built at "the Rocks" in Wilmington, Captain Caleb P. Bennett fortified New Castle, and Pea Patch Island was deeded to the U.S. Government so that there might be a fort built there.
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