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Gunning Bedford, Sr.
Governor of Delaware
In office January 19, 1796 – September 28, 1797
Preceded by	Joshua Clayton
Succeeded by	Daniel Rogers
Born	April 7, 1742(1742-04-07) New Castle County, Delaware
Died	September 28, 1797 (aged 55) New Castle, Delaware
Political party	Federalist
Spouse	Mary Read
Residence	New Castle, Delaware
Profession	lawyer
Religion	Episcopalian

Gunning Bedford, Sr. (April 7, 1742 – September 28, 1797) was an American lawyer and politician from New Castle, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, and was a member of the Federalist Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly and as Governor of Delaware. He is often confused with his cousin, Gunning Bedford, Jr., who was a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787.

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

Bedford was born April 7, 1742 on a farm in New Castle Hundred, near the town of New Castle, the son of William & Catherine Jacquett Bedford. William Bedford was the grandson of another William Bedford who came to Delaware from Virginia around 1680, and who himself was the grandson of an English immigrant to Jamestown, Virginia in 1621. Gunning Bedford was educated at the Academy of Pennsylvania and married Mary Read, the sister of George Read in 1769. They had no children. They lived at 6 The Strand in New Castle and were members of Immanuel Episcopal Church. He began his career as a merchant at New Castle.

Bedford was a lieutenant of the New Castle County militia in the French and Indian War, and in 1776 was Lieutenant Colonel in the 1st Delaware Regiment, under Colonel John Haslet in the American Revolution. Although Haslet and Bedford were that day attending a court martial, this unit distinguished itself at the Battle of Long Island and again at the Battle of White Plains where Bedford was wounded. On June 18, 1776, he was appointed muster-master-general. With the expiration of his enlistment, perhaps nursing his wound, Bedford returned home, studied law, and was admitted to the Bar in 1779.

Bedford was elected to four terms in the House of Assembly or State House beginning with the 1783/84 session and serving through the 1786/87 session. After being elected a delegate to the U.S. Congress under the Articles of Confederation in 1786/87, from which he resigned January 15, 1787, he was elected to a term in the Legislative Council or State Senate beginning with the 1788/89 session. In October 1795 he was the Federalist candidate for Governor, defeating Dr. Archibald Alexander, a retired army surgeon. He served as Governor from January 19, 1796 until his death on September 28, 1797.

Delaware General Assembly (sessions while Governor)
Year	Assembly		Senate Majority	Speaker		House Majority	Speaker
1796	20th		Federalist	Daniel Rogers		Federalist	Stephen Lewis
1797	21st		Federalist	Daniel Rogers		Federalist	Stephen Lewis

Bedford died September 28, 1797 at New Castle, Delaware and was buried at the Immanuel Episcopal Church Cemetery, New Castle. He was the second Governor of Delaware to die in office.

Elections were held October 1st and members of the General Assembly took office on October 20th, or the following weekday. Legislative Councilmen had a three year term and Assemblymen had a one year term.

Beginning in 1792, elections were moved to the first Tuesday of October and members of the General Assembly took office on the first Tuesday of January. Also in 1792 the Legislative Council was renamed the State Senate and the House of Assembly, the State House. The State President became the Governor, was popularly elected, and took office the third Tuesday in January.

Public Offices
Office	Type	Location	Elected	Took Office	Left Office	notes
Assemblyman	Legislature	Dover	1783	October 20, 1783	October 20, 1784
Assemblyman	Legislature	Dover	1784	October 20, 1784	October 20, 1785
Assemblyman	Legislature	Dover	1785	October 20, 1785	October 21, 1786
Assemblyman	Legislature	Dover	1786	October 20, 1786	October 21, 1787
Councilman	Legislature	Dover	1788	October 20, 1789	October 26, 1792
Governor	Executive	Dover	1795	January 19, 1796	September 28, 1797

Delaware General Assembly service
Dates	Assembly	Chamber	Majority	Governor	Committees	District
1783/84	8th	State House	non-partisan	Nicholas Van Dyke		New Castle at-large
1784/85	9th	State House	non-partisan	Nicholas Van Dyke		New Castle at-large
1785/86	10th	State House	non-partisan	Nicholas Van Dyke		New Castle at-large
1786/87	11th	State House	non-partisan	Thomas Collins		New Castle at-large
1788/89	13th	State Council	non-partisan	Thomas Collins		New Castle at-large
1790/91	14th	State Council	non-partisan	Joshua Clayton		New Castle at-large
1791/92	15th	State Council	non-partisan	Joshua Clayton		New Castle at-large

Election results
Year	Office		Subject	Party	Votes	%		Opponent	Party	Votes	%
1795	Governor		Gunning Bedford, Sr.	Federalist	2,352	52%		Archibald Alexander	Democratic-Republican	2,142	48%

• Conrad, Henry C. (1908). History of the State of Delaware. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Wickersham Company. 
• Rodney, Richard S. (1975). Collected Essays on Early Delaware. Wilmington, Delaware: Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Delaware. 
• Hoffecker, Carol E. (2004). Democracy in Delaware. Wilmington, Delaware: Cedar Tree Books. ISBN 1-892142-23-6. 
• Martin, Roger A. (1984). History of Delaware Through its Governors. Wilmington, Delaware: McClafferty Press. 
• Martin, Roger A. (1995). Memoirs of the Senate. Newark, DE: Roger A. Martin. 
• Munroe, John A. (1993). History of Delaware. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press. ISBN 0-87413-493-5. 
• Munroe, John A. (1954). Federalist Delaware 1775-1815. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University. 
• Munroe, John A. (2004). Philadelawareans. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press. ISBN 0-87413-872-8. 
• Scharf, John Thomas (1888). History of Delaware 1609-1888. 2 vols.. Philadelphia: L. J. Richards & Co.. 
• Sobel, Robert; J. Racino (1988). Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States 1789-1978. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-930466-00-4. 
• Ward, Christopher L. (1941). Delaware Continentals, 1776-1783. Wilmington, DE: Historical Society of Delaware. ISBN 0-924117-21-4. 
• Wilson, Emerson. (1969). Forgotten Heroes of Delaware. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Deltos Publishing Company. 

• Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress
• Delaware’s Governors
• History of Delaware 1609-1888
• Find a Grave
• National Governors Association
• Political Graveyard

• 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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