The 1816–17 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between April 30, 1816 and August 14, 1817. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before the first session of the 15th United States Congress convened on December 1, 1817. The size of the House increased to 184 after Indiana and Mississippi achieved statehood.
Two major events combined to help eliminate the declining Federalist Party from meaningful contention. First, the War of 1812 had concluded in 1815 with a feeling of national pride and relief, with the small American military fighting the much more powerful British forces to a draw punctuated by General Andrew Jackson's dramatic victory at the Battle of New Orleans. Federalists had opposed the risky but ultimately successful war, with some New England Federalists advocating radical measures at the Hartford Convention. Second, the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora in present-day Indonesia, itself the most powerful in recorded history and following other major eruptions, temporarily disrupted global climate. The effects severely damaged the agricultural economy of New England, where Federalist support was strongest, causing privation, popular discontent, and mass emigration westward.
Election summaries
Mississippi was admitted as a state in 1817 during the 15th Congress, adding one seat.[1]
Incumbent resigned December 15, 1815 when elected U.S. Senator. New member elected January 22, 1816 and seated February 7, 1816.[2] Democratic-Republican hold. Winner was later re-elected to the next term; see below.
Incumbent resigned in 1815. New member elected January 27, 1816 and seated February 4, 1816.[2] Democratic-Republican hold. Winner was later re-elected to the next term; see below.
Incumbent resigned January 23, 1816 New member elected April 30 – May 2, 1816 and seated December 2, 1816.[2] Democratic-Republican hold. Winner was not elected to the next term; see below.
Incumbent resigned, effective November 4, 1816. New member elected before August 16, 1816 and seated December 2, 1816.[2] Democratic-Republican hold. Winner lost re-election to the next term; see below.
Incumbent died April 16, 1816. New member elected before August 22, 1816 and seated December 2, 1816.[2] Democratic-Republican hold. Winner lost re-election to the next term; see below.
Incumbent resigned June 4, 1816 after losing re-election. New member elected August 27–29, 1816 and seated December 3, 1816.[2] Democratic-Republican hold. Winner was not elected to the next term; see below.
Incumbent resigned April 18, 1816 to become Minister to Russia. New member elected September 3, 1816 and seated December 2, 1816.[2] Democratic-Republican hold. Winner was later re-elected to the next term; see below.
Incumbent resigned after being elected to the Senate. New member elected October 6, 1816 and seated December 2, 1816.[2] Federalist hold. Winner also elected to the next term; see below.
Incumbent resigned in April 1816 after being appointed to the Supreme Court of Ohio. New member elected October 8, 1816 and seated December 2, 1816.[2] Democratic-Republican hold. Winner also elected to the next term; see below.
Incumbent resigned in April 1816 to accept judicial appointment. New member elected October 8, 1816 and seated December 3, 1816.[2] Democratic-Republican hold. Winner also elected to the next term; see below.
Incumbent resigned October 21, 1816, having just lost re-election. New member elected November 25 & 26, 1816 and seated January 2, 1817.[2] Democratic-Republican hold. Winner also won the general election; see below.
Incumbent resigned April 8, 1816 when appointed circuit court judge. New member elected in 1816 and seated December 2, 1816.[2] Democratic-Republican hold. Winner was not elected to the next term; see below.
Incumbent resigned to become president and judge of the court of common pleas. New member elected October 14, 1817 and seated with the rest of the House December 1, 1817.[15] Democratic-Republican hold.
Member-elect died February 18, 1817. New member elected in 1817 and seated with the rest of the House December 1, 1817.[15] Democratic-Republican hold.
Indiana was admitted as a state of the Union on December 11, 1816.[2] New member elected in 1816 and seated December 11, 1816.[2] Democratic-Republican gain.
Massachusetts's electoral law required a majority for election. In five districts this was not met on the first election, requiring additional trials to be held.
Massachusetts elected its members November 4, 1816.
District numbers differed between source used and elsewhere on Wikipedia; district numbers used elsewhere on Wikipedia used here.
Mississippi was admitted as a state on December 10, 1817[15] from the western half of the former Mississippi Territory (the eastern half became Alabama Territory) It elected its first representative to Congress August 4–5, 1817.
Incumbent resigned in April 1816 to accept judicial appointment. New member elected October 8, 1816. Democratic-Republican hold. Successor also elected, the same day, to finish the term.
There were three territories with the right to send delegates during at least part of the 15th Congress.
Illinois Territory also only existed during the 1st Session, as it was admitted to the Union as the State of Illinois on December 3, 1818.
Mississippi Territory only existed during the first few months of the 15th Congress, but did not elect a delegate, since it was admitted to the Union as a state a few days into the 1st Session of the 15th Congress.
There were two elections held for the delegate from Missouri Territory. The first was contested by Rufus Easton on the grounds of electoral fraud. This election was declared void, and a second election was held on August 4, 1817.[2] It was won without controversy by John Scott, who took his seat on December 8, 1817.
^ abcd Figures are at variance with both Dubin (p. 62, which includes "140 Republicans, 1 Independent Republican, and 2 vacancies", in addition to "41 Federalists"), and Martis (p. 84) and "Party Divisions of the House of Representatives* ▌1789–Present". Office of the Historian, House of United States House of Representatives. (which both report 146 Democrat-Republicans, and 39 Federalists). But Dubin appears to incorrectly list Lewis Williams of NC-13 as a "Federalist" (see pg. 60 and 55, etc.) instead of a "Democrat-Republican", while Martis lists Philemon Beecher of OH-05 as a "Democrat-Republican" instead of a "Federalist", which if accounted for would revise both Dubin's and Martis's totals to 40 Federalists (and therefore 144 Democrat-Republicans).
^A majority was required for election, which was not met in the initial election for 5 districts requiring additional trials to be held on January 27, May 1, July 21, September 29, and December 1, 1817.
^ abcdefghijOnly candidates with at least 1% of the vote listed.
^ abcdefghijklm Numbers of votes missing or incomplete in source
Mapping Early American Elections project team (2019). "Mapping Early American Elections". Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media, George Mason University. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
External links
Office of the Historian (Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives)
