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Nicholas Van Dyke
U. S. Senator from Delaware
In office March 4, 1817 – May 21, 1826
Preceded by	William H. Wells
Succeeded by	Daniel Rodney
U.S. Representative from Delaware
In office October 6, 1807 – March 3, 1811
Preceded by	James M. Broom
Succeeded by	Henry M. Ridgely
Born	December 8, 1770(1770-12-08) New Castle Delaware
Died	May 21, 1826 (aged 55) New Castle Delaware
Political party	Federalist Party
Spouse	Mary Ann Leuvaneigh
Residence	New Castle Delaware
Alma mater	College of New Jersey
Profession	lawyer
Religion	Episcopalian

Nicholas Van Dyke (December 8, 1770 – May 21, 1826) was an American lawyer and politician from New Castle Delaware. He was a member of the Federalist Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly, and as U.S. Representative from Delaware, and as U.S. Senator from Delaware.

Contents 1 Early life and family 2 Political career 3 Death and legacy 4 Almanac 5 Notes 6 References 7 External links 7.1 Places with more information

Van Dyke was born December 8, 1769 in New Castle Delaware, son of Nicholas and Charlotte Stanley Van Dyke. His father had been a member of the Continental Congress and a President of Delaware. The younger Nicholas graduated from the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University in 1788, studied law with his brother-in-law, Kensy Johns, and was admitted to the Bar in New Castle, in 1792. He married Mary Ann Leuvaneigh in 1792. They had six children, including Nicholas III, Kensey Johns, and Dorcas Montgomery and lived at many houses in and around New Castle. One of these was at the corner of Delaware and Fourth Streets and was the location of the 1824 wedding of Dorcas Van Dyke and Charles I. du Pont, which was attended by the Marquis de Lafayette. The family were members of Immanuel Episcopal Church.

Van Dyke was a Federalist who was a member of the Delaware House of Representatives in 1799, and was elected to the 10th U.S. Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of U.S. Representative James M. Broom. He was reelected to the 11th U.S. Congress, and served in the U.S. House from October 6, 1807 until March 3, 1811. With the Federalists a powerless minority in Congress, he returned home to serve as the Attorney General of Delaware. Subsequently, he was elected to the Delaware State Senate for the 1816 and 1817 sessions. While serving there he was elected to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1817 until his death on May 21, 1826. He was Chairman of the Committee on Pensions in the 16th U.S. Congress.

Van Dyke died May 21, 1826, in New Castle Delaware, and is buried in the Immanuel Episcopal Church Cemetery in New Castle. He was compared to other lawyers by one who knew him as a "sound lawyer and superior to them all as a fluent, graceful and successful advocate and in the skillful management of his cases." ^[1]

Elections were held the first Tuesday of October and members of the General Assembly took office on the first Tuesday of January. The State Senate had a term of three years and the State House had a term of one year. Members of the U.S. House took office 4th of March for a two year term.

The General Assembly chose the U.S. Senators, who took office the March 4th for a six year term.

Public Offices
Office	Type	Location	Elected	Took Office	Left Office	notes
State Representative	Legislature	Dover	1798	January 1, 1799	January 7, 1800
State Attorney General	Executive	Dover		1801	1806
U.S. Representative	Legislature	Washington	1807	October 6, 1807	March 3, 1809	[2]
U.S. Representative	Legislature	Washington	1808	March 4, 1809	March 3, 1811
State Senator	Legislature	Dover	1815	January 6, 1816	March 3, 1817
U.S. Senator	Legislature	Washington		March 4, 1817	March 3, 1823
U.S. Senator	Legislature	Washington		March 4, 1823	May 21, 1826

Delaware General Assembly service
Dates	Assembly	Chamber	Majority	Governor	Committees	District
1799	23rd	State House	Federalist	Richard Bassett		New Castle at-large

United States Congressional service
Dates	Congress	Chamber	Majority	President	Committees	Class/District
1807-1809	10th	U.S. House	Democratic-Republican	Thomas Jefferson		at-large
1809-1811	11th	U.S. House	Democratic-Republican	James Madison		at-large
1817-1819	15th	U.S. Senate	Democratic-Republican	James Monroe		class 2
1819-1821	16th	U.S. Senate	Democratic-Republican	James Monroe		class 2
1821-1823	17th	U.S. Senate	Democratic-Republican	James Monroe		class 2
1823-1825	18th	U.S. Senate	Democratic-Republican	James Monroe		class 2
1825-1827	19th	U.S. Senate	Democratic	John Quincy Adams		class 2

Election results
Year	Office		Subject	Party	Votes	%		Opponent	Party	Votes	%	notes
1807	U.S. Representative		Nicholas Van Dyke	Federalist	3,294	52%		John Dickinson	Democratic-Republican	3,078	48%	[3]
1808	U.S. Representative		Nicholas Van Dyke	Federalist	3,242	53%		Joseph Haslet	Democratic-Republican	2,837	47%

1. ^ Rodney, Richard S. (1975). The Collected Essays of Richard S. Rodney on Early Delaware. Wilmington, DE: The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Delaware. 
2. ^ elected to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James M. Broom, seated December 2, 1807
3. ^ Special election August 6, 1807 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James M. Broom.

• Conrad, Henry C. (1908). History of the State of Delaware, 3 vols.. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Wickersham Company. 
• Martin, Roger A. (1995). Memoirs of the Senate. Newark, DE: Roger A. Martin. 
• Martin, Roger A. (2003). Delawareans in Congress. Middletown, DE: Roger A. Martin. ISBN 0-924117-26-5. 
• Rodney, Richard S. (1975). The Collected Essays of Richard S. Rodney on Early Delaware. Wilmington, DE: The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Delaware. 
• Scharf, John Thomas (1888). History of Delaware 1609-1888. 2 vols.. Philadelphia: L. J. Richards & Co.. 

• Biographical Dictionary of the U.S. Congress
• Delaware’s Senators
• Find a Grave
• New Castle Historical Society

• Historical Society of Delaware 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware (302) 655-7161
• University of Delaware Library 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 831-2965

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