William Tharp
| William Tharp | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 36th Governor of Delaware | |
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In office January 19, 1847 – January 21, 1851 |
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| Preceded by | William Temple |
| Succeeded by | William H. H. Ross |
| Member of the Delaware Senate | |
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In office January 6, 1839 - January 6, 1843 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
November 27, 1803 Farmington, Delaware |
| Died | January 9, 1865 (aged 61) Milford, Delaware |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Mary A. Johnson |
| Residence | Milford, Delaware |
| Occupation | farmer |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
William Tharp (November 27, 1803 – January 9, 1865) was an American farmer and politician from Milford in Kent County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly and as Governor of Delaware.
Tharp was born in Farmington, Delaware, the son of James and Eunice Fleming Tharp. His great grandfather had settled near Frankford, Delaware in 1735. His father died in 1829 and he married Mary A. Johnson about the same time. They had five children: Ruth, Mary Elizabeth, Martina, Williamina, and Ann Purnell. Through his wife that he inherited his first home on U.S. Highway 13 at Farmington, and began the accumulation of a considerable amount of farmland which he managed for the rest of his life. That home, known as the Tharp House, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. When he was elected Governor in 1847, the family moved to Milford and lived at the northeast corner of Church and Front Streets. They were members of the Presbyterian Church and among the organizers of a new congregation in Milford in 1849.
Throughout the 19th century Delaware politics was characterized by a conservative down state, agrarian and small business majority, in opposition to a Wilmington based industrialist minority. This majority was led into the Whig Party by John M. Clayton. Having lost three straight elections for governor, the minority Democratic Party found a candidate of their own from down state in Tharp.
Tharp was elected to the State Senate and served in the 1839/40 and 1841/42 sessions. He sought reelection to the State Senate in 1842, but after a months long recount, was found to have lost by 1 vote. He then ran for Governor in 1844, but lost to the Whig Party candidate, . Because Stockton died in office another gubernatorial election was held in 1846, and Tharp was finally elected, defeating Peter F. Causey, the Whig Party candidate. Although he was elected along with a Whig Party General Assembly, his term began the long dominance of the Democratic Party for the remainder of the 19th century. Tharp served a full term as Governor from January 19, 1847 until January 21, 1851.
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