John Collins (March 1, 1776 – April 16, 1822) was an American manufacturer and politician from Delaware. He was a member of the

Democratic-Republican Party The Democratic-Republican Party (also referred to by historians as the Republican Party or the Jeffersonian Republican Party), was an American political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in the early 1790s. It championed li ...

and served as

Governor of Delaware A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the type of political region or polity, a ''governor'' ma ...

from 1821 until his death in 1822.

Early life and family

He was born at Collins Mill Pond, in

Nanticoke Hundred Nanticoke Hundred is a hundred in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. Nanticoke Hundred was formed in 1775 from Somerset County, Maryland Somerset County is the southernmost county in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 United St ...

Sussex County, Delaware Sussex County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of Delaware, on the Delmarva Peninsula. As of the 2020 census, the population was 237,378, making it the state's second most populated county behind New Castle and ahead of Ke ...

, the son of Captain John and Sarah "Sally" Houston Collins. Captain John Collins had mined bog ore from his property and served twelve years in the

Delaware General Assembly The Delaware General Assembly is the legislature of the U.S. state of Delaware. It is a bicameral legislature composed of the Delaware Senate with 21 senators and the Delaware House of Representatives with 41 representatives. It meets at Legi ...

. The sister of the younger John, married future Governor

David Hazzard David Hazzard (May 18, 1781 – July 8, 1864) was an American merchant and politician from Milton, in Sussex County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, then the National Republican Party, and finally the Whig Party. ...

. The younger John himself married Jane Hall, daughter of former Governor David Hall, and had six children, Theophilus, John, Joseph, Sarah, Catherine, and Martha. Their home was at the Collins Mill Pond in

, where he continued the operation of a mill. It is believed they were members of the Methodist Church.

Political career

Collins was elected governor in 1820 by defeating the

Federalist The term ''federalist'' describes several political beliefs around the world. It may also refer to the concept of parties, whose members or supporters call themselves ''Federalists''. History Europe federation In Europe, proponents of deep ...

candidate, a longtime member of the General Assembly, Jesse Green. He was governor from January 16, 1821 until his death on April 16, 1822. Collins was known for his interest in improving public education. It was during his term that a controversial transit duty began being assessed to support the beginning of a new college in Newark. He also appointed

Willard Hall Willard Hall (December 24, 1780 – May 10, 1875), was a Delaware Attorneys in the United States, attorney and politician from Wilmington, Delaware, Wilmington in New Castle County, Delaware, New Castle County. He was a member of the Democratic- ...

, the future "father of public education," as secretary of state. Both of these actions would achieve results in later years.

Death and legacy

Collins died at Collins Mill Pond, in

at the age of 46. He is buried there on the family farm. No known portrait of John Collins exists.

Almanac

Elections were held on the first Tuesday of October. The governor takes office the third Tuesday in January, and had a three-year term.

References

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External links

Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States

Places with more information

Delaware Historical Society The Delaware Historical Society began in 1864 as an effort to preserve documents from the Civil War. Since then, it has expanded into a statewide historical institution with several buildings, including Old Town Hall and the Delaware History M ...

website
505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; (302) 655-7161 *

University of Delaware The University of Delaware (colloquially known as UD, UDel, or Delaware) is a Statutory college#Delaware, privately governed, state-assisted Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Newark, Delaware, United States. UD offers f ...

Library website
181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; (302) 831-2965 {{DEFAULTSORT:Collins, John 1776 births 1822 deaths Methodists from Delaware People from Sussex County, Delaware Businesspeople from Delaware Delaware Democratic-Republicans Governors of Delaware Democratic-Republican Party state governors of the United States 19th-century Delaware politicians