Joshua Clayton
| Joshua Clayton | |
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United States Senator from Delaware |
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In office January 19, 1798 – August 11, 1798 |
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| Preceded by | John M. Vining |
| Succeeded by | William H. Wells |
| 10th Governor of Delaware | |
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In office January 15, 1793 – January 19, 1796 |
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| Preceded by | President of Delaware |
| Succeeded by | Gunning Bedford, Sr. |
| President of Delaware | |
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In office May 30, 1789 – January 15, 1793 |
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| Preceded by | Jehu Davis |
| Succeeded by | Governor of Delaware |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
July 20, 1744 Wyoming, Delaware |
| Died | August 11, 1798 (aged 54) New Castle County, Delaware |
| Political party | Federalist |
| Spouse(s) | Rachel McCleary |
| Residence | New Castle County, Delaware |
| Alma mater | University of Pennsylvania |
| Profession | physician |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | Militia |
| Rank | Major |
| Battles/wars | American Revolutionary War |
Dr. Joshua Clayton (July 20, 1744 – August 11, 1798) was an American physician and politician from Mt. Pleasant in Pencader Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware. He was an officer of the Continental Army in the American Revolution, and a member of the Federalist Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly, as Governor of Delaware and as U.S. Senator from Delaware.
Clayton was born near Wyoming, Delaware, son of John Clayton & Eleanor Edinfield. John Clayton was a miller and the grandson of another Joshua Clayton, a Quaker, who came from Lincolnshire, England in the late 17th century. The younger Joshua Clayton went to medical school at, what is now, the University of Pennsylvania from 1757 until 1762, and then began a medical practice in Middletown, Delaware. He became close friends with Richard Bassett, and in 1765, married his adopted daughter, Rachael McCleary.
Clayton acquired a portion of Richard Bassett's Bohemia Manor estate, and in 1773 built their home, Locust Grove. It is now known as the Dickey Farm, and is on the Choptank Road, two miles west of Mt. Pleasant in Pencader Hundred, to the northwest of Middletown. There they had three children who lived to adulthood, Richard, James Lawson and Thomas. Their religious affiliation is unclear, but they were almost certainly members of the Bethel Methodist Church by the time of their deaths.
During the American Revolution, Clayton served in the Bohemia Manor militia, where he had been commissioned a major. He was also an aide and surgeon to General George Washington at the Battle of Brandywine and at Valley Forge.
Following this Clayton served in the House of Assembly in the 1778/79 session, and again from the 1780/81 session through the 1783/84 session. He was back again in the 1785/86 session, and the 1787/88 session. He was chosen President of Delaware by the Delaware General Assembly on May 30, 1789 and served as President until January 15, 1793. Under the provisions of the new Delaware Constitution of 1792 he became the first popularly elected Governor of Delaware and continued to serve in that capacity until his term ended, January 19, 1796.
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