John J. Milligan

John Jones Milligan (December 10, 1795 – April 20, 1875) was an American lawyer and politician from Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a member of the Whig Party, and served as U.S. Representative from Delaware.

Political career

Milligan served eight years representing Delaware in the U.S. House of Representatives. Elected as an Anti-Jacksonian in 1830, he became a member of the Whig Party when it was organized, and served from March 4, 1831, until March 3, 1839. Having been defeated for reelection to a fifth term, he was appointed Associate Judge of the Delaware Superior Court on September 19, 1839, and served until September 16, 1864, when he retired.

Death and legacy

Milligan died at his retirement home in Philadelphia and is buried in the Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery at Wilmington.

Milligan is described in the Diaries of Edmund Canby as follows: "...(he)...is a beautiful speaker, his manner is fine, gestures good, matter well arranged, distinct and clear- certainly one of the most delightful speakers I have ever heard...Milligan would be a splendid speaker with practice...he has many happy hits and some beautiful classical illusions...He is, I am told, a fine classical scholar."

Almanac

Elections were held the first Tuesday of October and, beginning 1832, the first Tuesday after November 1. U.S. Representatives took office March 4 and have a two-year term.

Public offices
Office	Type	Location	Began office	Ended office	Notes
U.S. Representative	Legislature	Washington	March 4, 1831	March 3, 1833
U.S. Representative	Legislature	Washington	March 4, 1833	March 3, 1835
U.S. Representative	Legislature	Washington	March 4, 1835	March 3, 1837
U.S. Representative	Legislature	Washington	March 4, 1837	March 3, 1839
State Superior Court	Judicial	Dover	September 19, 1839	September 16, 1864

United States congressional service
Dates	Congress	Chamber	Majority	President	Committees	Class/District
1831–1833	22nd	U.S. House	Democratic	Andrew Jackson		at-large
1833–1835	23rd	U.S. House	Democratic	Andrew Jackson		at-large
1835–1837	24th	U.S. House	Democratic	Andrew Jackson		at-large
1837–1838	25th	U.S. House	Democratic	Martin Van Buren		at-large

Election results
Year	Office		Subject	Party	votes	%		Opponent	Party	votes	%
1830	U.S. Representative		style="background-color:Template:Party color" | John J. Milligan	style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Whig	style="background-color:Template:Party color" | 4,267	style="background-color:Template:Party color" | 53%		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Henry M. Ridgely	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | 3,833	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | 47%
1832	U.S. Representative		style="background-color:Template:Party color" | John J. Milligan	style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Whig	style="background-color:Template:Party color" | 4,257	style="background-color:Template:Party color" | 51%		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Martin W. Bates	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | 4,142	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | 49%
1834	U.S. Representative		style="background-color:Template:Party color" | John J. Milligan	style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Whig	style="background-color:Template:Party color" | 4,779	style="background-color:Template:Party color" | 51%		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | James A. Bayard Jr.	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | 4,626	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | 49%
1836	U.S. Representative		style="background-color:Template:Party color" | John J. Milligan	style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Whig	style="background-color:Template:Party color" | 4,705	style="background-color:Template:Party color" | 53%		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Martin W. Bates	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | 4,247	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | 47%
1838	U.S. Representative		style="background-color:Template:Party color" | John J. Milligan	style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Whig	style="background-color:Template:Party color" | 4,379	style="background-color:Template:Party color" | 50%		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Thomas Robinson Jr.	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | 4,437	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | 50%

External links

• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Delaware's Members of Congress
• Find a Grave
• The Political Graveyard
• Superior Court Judges, past & present

Places with more information

• Delaware Historical Society; website; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; (302) 655-7161.
• University of Delaware; Library website; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; (302) 831-2965.
• Newark Free Library; 750 Library Ave., Newark, Delaware; (302) 731-7550.