William T. Watson

William Tharp Watson ( * June 6, 1849 in Milford, Delaware, † April 14, 1917 ) was an American politician and 1895-1897 Governor of the State of Delaware.

Early years

William Watson was the grandson of William Tharp, who had also been Governor of Delaware 1847-1851. The young William attended the Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland. He then lived for a time in Philadelphia. After his return to Milford, he worked for a railroad company, and then for the local First National Bank.

Political rise

Watson was a member of the Democratic Party, which the State of Delaware dominated politically in the 25 years after the Civil War. Between 1892 and 1895 he was a member of the Senate from Delaware and was even the President. During this period took place in Delaware, a political upheaval. The hitherto rather insignificant Republican Party brought on thanks to a financially strong sponsor and simultaneous wear and tear for the Democrats and managed to provide an election winner for her performances in the gubernatorial elections of 1894, with Joshua H. Marvil. At the same time the Republicans won a narrow majority in the House of Representatives from Delaware. These were harbingers of a political change of power. Between 1901 and 1937 only Republican governors in Delaware were in office. However, the 1894 elected governor Marvil already died on April 8, 1895 just four months in office. According to the state constitution Watson had as Senate President for the Office of the Governor take over.

Governor of Delaware

During his tenure there came to Delaware to a bitter dispute over the allocation of a seat in the U.S. Senate. Involved in it were the former Democratic Senator Anthony C. Higgins, but found no majority, and the two Republican Henry A. du Pont and J. Edward Addicks, a millionaire from Philadelphia and the main financier of the Republican Party. Governor Watson took during this discussion briefly back to his seat in the Senate and voted for Higgins. He prevented a slight majority in favor du Pont. His behavior was controversial and his voice was declared by the Republican Speaker of the House to be invalid. Thus du Pont found his slim majority. However, this was not recognized by the U.S. Senate, where the Democrats had a majority because of the rejection of the voice of Watson. Thus, the Democrats secured a majority in the Senate in Washington and that was the real reason for the behavior of Governor Watson in this matter. As a result, the seat of the Class 2 senator from Delaware remained vacant 1895-1897.

During his tenure, was also working on a reform of the constitution, which came into force in 1897 and with the office of Lieutenant Governor was created. In addition, the next gubernatorial elections were brought forward by two years to 1896. Since then find the gubernatorial elections in Delaware the same time as the presidential elections.

Further CV

By the early gubernatorial Watson ended term of office already on 19 January 1897. Afterwards he retired from politics and devoted himself to his private affairs. Governor Watson died in 1917., With his wife Harriet Beale he had a son.