Robert John Reynolds (March 17, 1838 – June 10, 1909) was an American politician from
Petersburg in
South Murderkill Hundred,
Kent County, Delaware
Kent County is a County (United States), county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Delaware. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 181,851, making it the least populous county in Delaware. The county ...
. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly, and as Governor of Delaware.
Early life and family
Reynolds was born in
Smyrna, Delaware
Smyrna is a town in Kent and New Castle counties in the U.S. state of Delaware. It is part of the Dover metropolitan statistical area. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2020, the population of the town is 12,883.
The international juri ...
, son of Robert Wright and Sallie Gilder Marvel Reynolds. He married Louvenia Riggs and had one child, Byron, and later married Hester Thomas, with whom he had no children. They lived at "Golden Ridge", near Petersburg in South Murderkill Hundred, Kent County, Delaware and were members of the Methodist Church.
Professional and political career
Reynolds was elected to the State House in 1868 and served the 1869/70 session. From 1879 until 1883 he was state treasurer, and in 1890 was elected the Governor of Delaware, defeating Harry A. Richardson, the Republican candidate. He served from January 20, 1891, until January 15, 1895.
During these years free textbooks were first provided to public school students, and
Delaware State College
Delaware State University (DSU or Del State) is a privately governed, state-assisted historically black land-grant research university in Dover, Delaware. DSU also has two satellite campuses: one in Wilmington and one in Georgetown. The un ...
was established in Dover.
Death and legacy
Reynolds died at his home near Petersburg at South Murderkill Hundred, Kent County, Delaware, and is buried at the
Loudon Park Cemetery
Loudon Park Cemetery is a historic cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland. It was incorporated on January 27, 1853, on of the site of the "Loudon" estate, previously owned by James Carey, a local merchant and politician. The entrance to the cemetery ...
, in
Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the List of United States ...
.
Almanac
Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. Members of the Delaware General Assembly took office the first Tuesday of January. State representatives have a two-year term. The governor takes office the third Tuesday of January and has a four-year term.
References
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Images
Hall of Governors Portrait Gallery''Portrait courtesy of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Dover.''
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:Reynolds, Robert J.
1838 births
1909 deaths
Methodists from Delaware
Burials at Loudon Park Cemetery
People from Kent County, Delaware
Farmers from Delaware
Democratic Party members of the Delaware House of Representatives
Democratic Party governors of Delaware
People from Smyrna, Delaware
19th-century members of the Delaware General Assembly