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25th Congress (1837–1839)

Congressional Profile

Total Membership:

242 Representatives
3 Delegates

Party Divisions:^*

128 Democrats
100 Whigs
7 Anti-Masonics
6 Nullifiers
1 Independent

^*Party division totals are based on election day results.

/tiles/non-collection/H/HouseChamberSeatingPlan_2004_103_000.xml Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives
About this object The House briefly used this House Chamber design in a failed attempt to improve the acoustics.

Congress Overview

Democrats and Whigs emerged as formal party organizations and dominated the 1836 elections. Democrats opened the 25th Congress (1837–1839) amid widespread financial collapse, and quickly ordered new Treasury notes to help relieve the pressure on America’s economy. The House continued its effort to gag antislavery petitions despite opposition from former President and now Massachusetts Representative John Quincy Adams. Congress also banned challenging or accepting a duel in the District of Columbia after Kentucky Representative William Graves shot and killed Maine Representative Jonathan Cilley.

Member Information

Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, (1774–2005), Official Annotated Membership Roster by State with Vacancy and Special Election Information for the 25th Congress. [PDF]
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Committee Information

Leadership & Officers

Speaker of the House:: James K. Polk (D–Tennessee)
Clerk of the House:: Hugh A. Garland
Walter S. Franklin
Sergeant at Arms:: Roderick Dorsey
Chaplain of the House:: Levi R. Reese – Methodist
Oliver C. Comstock – Baptist
Septimus Tustin – Presbyterian
Doorkeeper:: Overton Carr
Postmaster:: William J. McCormick ¹