Constitution Signer

Richard Bassett

            Richard Bassett was born in 1745 at Cecil County, Maryland.  After his tavern-keeper father left his mother, he was raised by a relative, Peter Lawson.  He studied law under Judge Robert Goldsborough and in 1770 received a license to practice in Dover, DE.

As well as practicing law, Bassett was also a planter and landowner.  He also sat on the Delaware Council of Safety, sat in both the upper and lower houses of the Delaware legislature, and was elected State Governor (1799-1801).

During the Revolutionary War, he captained a troop of Dover cavalry militia.

           Bassett attended the Constitutional Convention diligently but made no speeches, served on no committees, and cast no critical votes.  Like some of the other well-renowned delegates, he allowed others to take the major steps, however, Bennett was the most important leader in the fight to win ratification of the Constitution in Delaware.

           Bassett was elected in 1789 to two terms as U. S. Senator for the state of Delaware.  In 1793, he resigned this office in order to become the Chief Justice of the court of common pleas for Delaware (1793-1799).  He was a presidential elector on behalf of John Adams in 1797 and was one of John Adams' “midnight appointments” for Judge of the U. S. Circuit court (this appointment was later rescinded by Thomas Jefferson).

          Richard Bassett died in 1815 at Wilmington, DE and was well remembered for his hospitality and philanthropy.