Massachusetts 1803 Speaker of the House

Office:
Speaker of the House (State)
Title:
Speaker of the House
Jurisdiction:
State
Label:
Massachusetts 1803 Speaker of the House
Date:
1803
State:
Massachusetts
Type:
Legislative
Iteration:
First Ballot
Office/Role:
Speaker of the House/Speaker of the House
Candidates:
Harrison Gray Otis, Perez Morton, Henry Knox, J. Lowell
Candidates: Harrison Gray Otis[1]Perez MortonHenry KnoxJ. Lowell
Affiliation:FederalistRepublicanFederalistFederalist
Final Result: [2][3][4][5]1247321
General Court----
House of Representatives1247321

Notes:

[1]Elected.
[2]"The house ... proceeded to the choice of a Speaker, when upon sorting and counting the votes, it appeared the whole number was 200, necessary to a choice 101." The Independent Chronicle (Boston, MA). May 26, 1803.
[3]"The House of Representatives, elected the Hon. HARRISON G. OTIS, Esq. Speaker ... [The votes for Speaker were 200--of which Mr. OTIS had 124, Gen. KNOX 2, Mr. LOWELL 1, and PEREZ MORTON, Esq. 73.--The federal majority, 54: but if we add three federal members, who were not qualified in season to vote, that majority may be estimated at 57, at least, in the House.]" Columbian Centinel. Massachusetts Federalist (Boston, MA). May 28, 1803.
[4]"In the House of Representatives the number of votes for Speaker, was 200--necessary to make a choice 101 ... Mr. OTIS was declared to be elected ... It appears by the above that the Republican candidate for Speaker in the House of Representatives, obtained 73 votes. This proves to a demonstration that Republicanism has gained ground in the late election. Last year the whole number of Republicans that were in the H. of Representatives, did not exceed 72, and when the vote was taken for Speaker on Wednesday last, there was (at a low calculation) as many as 25 Republicans absent.--So much for the triumph of Federalism in Massachusetts! a few more such triumphs and our wishes will be gratified. [Gazeteer.]" Columbian Minerva (Dedham, MA). May 31, 1803.
[5]"Extract of a letter from our Correspondent at Boston, dated 26th April [sic], 1803. 'Yesterday was a proud day for Massachusetts. For five years we have not seen so paramount a display of genuine federalism. Our new legislature convened. The democrats had for a few days fondly hoped for a majority in the House; and their whole force was on the ground, officered and equipped. They had fixed on Mr. Morton for speaker ... A ballot was then had for speaker--two federal candidates had been spoken of, Mr. Otis and General Knox; but the latter very honorably relinquished in favor of the former. The votes were, for Mr. Otis 124; for Mr. Morton, 73. There were two votes for General Knox, and one for Mr. Sewell, (put in by Mr. Otis) and three federal members not having qualified for voting, did not vote. Mr. Otis, you will recollect, has lately been removed by Mr. Jefferson from the office of District Attorney. The federal strength of the House then may safely be put at 130--the democratic 73. There are between 30 and 40 more federalists elected, who have not yet taken their seats; and between 5 and 10 democrats. All the exercises of the day were highly federal." New-York Evening Post (New York, NY). May 30, 1803.

References:

The Independent Chronicle (Boston, MA). May 26, 1803.
New-England Palladium (Boston, MA). May 27, 1803.
Columbian Centinel. Massachusetts Federalist (Boston, MA). May 28, 1803.
New-York Evening Post (New York, NY). May 30, 1803.
Columbian Minerva (Dedham, MA). May 31, 1803.
Federal Spy (Springfield, MA). May 31, 1803.
Frederick-Town Herald (Fredericktown, MD). June 11, 1803.

Page Images

handwritten notes
Phil's original notebook pages that were used to compile this election. These notes are considered a draft of the electronic version. Therefore, the numbers may not match. To verify numbers you will need to check the original sources cited. Some original source material is available at the American Antiquarian Society).
handwritten notes
Phil's original notebook pages that were used to compile this election. These notes are considered a draft of the electronic version. Therefore, the numbers may not match. To verify numbers you will need to check the original sources cited. Some original source material is available at the American Antiquarian Society).

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