Anthony Higgins (politician)

Anthony Clark Higgins (October 1, 1840 – June 26, 1912) was an American lawyer and politician from Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a veteran of the Civil War and a member of the Republican Party, who served as United States Senator from Delaware.

Anthony C. Higgins
United States Senator
from Delaware
In office
March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1895
Preceded byEli Saulsbury
Succeeded byRichard R. Kenney[1]
United States Attorney for the District of Delaware
In office
1869–1876
PresidentUlysses S. Grant
Preceded byJohn Lockwood Pratt
Succeeded byWilliam Corbit Spruance
Personal details
Born
Anthony Clark Higgins

(1840-10-01)October 1, 1840
New Castle, Delaware
DiedJune 26, 1912(1912-06-26) (aged 71)
New York, New York
Political partyRepublican
Alma materDelaware College
Yale University
Harvard Law School
ProfessionLawyer
Signature

Early life and family

Higgins was born in Red Lion Hundred in New Castle County, Delaware. He attended Newark Academy and Delaware College, and graduated from Yale College in 1861, where he was a member of Skull and Bones.[2]: 94  After studying law at the Harvard Law School, he was admitted to the bar in 1864 and began practice in Wilmington, Delaware. He also served for a time in the Union Army in 1864.

Professional and public career

Higgins was appointed deputy Attorney General in 1864 and was the United States attorney for Delaware from 1869 until 1876. He was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for election to the 49th Congress in 1884, but was elected to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1889, until March 3, 1895, when he unsuccessfully sought reelection. During his tenure he was Chairman of the committee to Examine Branches of the Civil Service in the 51st and 52nd Congress, and a member of the Committee on Manufactures in the 52nd Congress. Subsequently, he resumed the practice of law in Wilmington, including service as one of the attorneys for the respondent in the impeachment proceedings of United States District Court Judge Charles Swayne of Florida in 1904/05.

Death and legacy

Higgins died while at New York, New York, and is buried at the St. Georges Cemetery, near St. Georges in New Castle County.

Almanac

Elections are held the first week of November. The General Assembly chose the U.S. Senators, who took office March 4 for a six-year term.


Public Offices
Office Type Location Began office Ended office notes
U.S. Senator Legislature Washington March 4, 1889 March 3, 1895
United States Congressional service
Dates Congress Chamber Majority President Committees Class/District
1889–1891 51st U.S. Senate Republican Benjamin Harrison class 2
1891–1893 52nd U.S. Senate Republican Benjamin Harrison class 2
1893–1895 53rd U.S. Senate Democratic Grover Cleveland class 2
Election results
Year Office Subject Party Votes % Opponent Party Votes %
1884 U.S. Representative Anthony Higgins Republican 12,878 43% Charles B. Lore Democratic 17,054 57%

Notes
  1. This seat was vacant until January 19, 1897.
  2. Fraternity, Psi Upsilon (1917). The twelfth general catalogue of the Psi Upsilon Fraternity. The fraternity. Retrieved March 24, 2011.

References
  • Scharf, John Thomas (1888). History of Delaware 1609-1888. 2 vols. Philadelphia: L. J. Richards & Co.
  • Conrad, Henry C. (1908). History of the State of Delaware, 3 vols. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Wickersham Company.
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