31st United States Congress

United States Capitol

The Thirty-first United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1849 to March 3, 1851, during the administration of U.S. President Zachary Taylor and the first months of the administration of his successor, U.S. President Millard Fillmore.

The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the Sixth Census of the United States in 1840. The Senate had a Democratic majority, while there was a Democratic plurality in the House.

Dates of sessions

March 4, 1849 - March 3, 1851

• Special session of the Senate: March 5, 1849 - March 23, 184
• First session: December 3, 1849 - September 30, 1850
• Second session: December 2, 1850 - March 3, 1851
• Previous congress: 30th Congress
  
• Next congress: 32nd Congress

Party summary

The count below identifies party affiliations at the beginning of the first session of this Congress, and includes members from vacancies and newly admitted states, when they were first seated. Changes resulting from subsequent replacements are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section.

Senate Democratic (D): 35 (majority) Whig (W): 25 Free Soil (FS): 2 TOTAL members: 62

House of Representatives Democratic (D): 113 Whig (W): 108 Free Soil (FS): 9 American (A): 1 Independent: 1 vacant: 1 TOTAL members: 233

Leadership

Senate Vice President of the United States (President of the Senate): Millard Fillmore, Whig of New York, succeeded to the Presidency July 9, 1850, vacant thereafter. President pro tempore of the Senate: David R. Atchison, Democratic of Missouri, elected March 5, 1849. William R. King, Democratic of Alabama, elected May 6, 1850. House of Representatives Speaker of the House Howell Cobb, Democratic of Georgia, elected December 22, 1849.

Major events

Events of 1849, 1850 and 1851

• March 4, 1849 -- Zachary Taylor became President of the United States
• July 10, 1850 -- Millard Fillmore became President of the United States

Major legislation

List of United States federal legislation in the 31st Congress

• September 9, 1850 -- Compromise of 1850
  • Texas borders were changed
  • September 9, 1850 -- California was admitted as a state into the Union. It was formed from the territory ceded by Mexico
  • September 9, 1850 -- New Mexico Territory was formed from territory ceded by Mexico
  • September 9, 1850 -- Utah Territory was formed from territory ceded by Mexico
• September 18, 1850 -- Fugitive Slave Act
• September 2, 1850 -- Donation Land Claim Act

Membership highlights by chamber

This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed in order of seniority, and Representatives are listed by district.

Senate

Senators were elected by the state legislatures every two years, with one-third beginning new six year terms with each Congress. Preceding the names in the list below are Senate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their election. In this Congress, Class 1 meant their term ended with this Congress, requiring reelection in 1850; Class 2 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1852; and Class 3 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1854.

Alabama 3: William R. D. King (D) 2: Benjamin Fitzpatrick (D) Jeremiah Clemens (D) Arkansas 3: Solon Borland (D) 2: William K. Sebastian (D) California 3: William M. Gwin (D) 1: John C. Frémont (D) Connecticut 1: Roger S. Baldwin (W) 3: Truman Smith (W) Delaware 2: Presley Spruance (W) 1: John Wales (W) Florida 1: David Levy Yulee (D) 3: Jackson Morton (W) Georgia 2: John Mcpherson Berrien (W) 3: William C. Dawson (W) Illinois 2: Stephen A. Douglas (D) 3: James Shields (D) Indiana 1: Jesse D. Bright (D) 3: James Whitcomb (D) Iowa 3: Augustus C. Dodge]] (D) 2: George W. Jones (D) Kentucky 2: Joseph R. Underwood (W) 3: Henry Clay (W)

Louisiana 2: Solomon W. Downs (D) 3: Pierre Soulé (D) Maine 2: James W. Bradbury (D) 1: Hannibal Hamlin (D) Maryland 3: James A. Pearce (W) 1: Reverdy Johnson (W) David Stewart (W) Thomas G. Pratt (W) Massachusetts 1: Daniel Webster (W) Robert C. Winthrop (W) Robert J. Rantoul, Jr. (D) 2: John Davis (W) Michigan 1: Lewis Cass (D) 2: Alpheus Felch (D) Mississippi 2: Henry S. Foote (D) 1: Jefferson Davis (D) Missouri 1: Thomas H. Benton (D) 3: David R. Atchison (D) New Hampshire 2: John P. Hale (FS) 3: Moses Norris, Jr. (D) New Jersey 2: Jacob W. Miller (W) 1: William L. Dayton (W) New York 1: Daniel S. Dickinson (D) 3: William H. Seward (W)

North Carolina 2: Willie P. Mangum (W) 3: George E. Badger (W) Ohio 1: Thomas Corwin (W) Thomas Ewing (W) 3: Salmon P. Chase (FS) Pennsylvania 1: Daniel Sturgeon (D) 3: James Cooper (W) Rhode Island 1: Albert C. Greene (W) 2: John H. Clarke (W) South Carolina 2: John C. Calhoun (D) Franklin H. Elmore (D) Robert W. Barnwell (D) R. Barnwell Rhett (D) 3: Andrew P. Butler (D) Tennessee 1: Hopkins L. Turney (D) 2: John Bell (W) Texas 2: Samuel Houston (D) 1: Thomas J. Rusk (D) Vermont 1: Samuel S. Phelps (W) 3: William Upham (W) Virginia 1: James M. Mason (D) 2: Robert M. T. Hunter (D) Wisconsin 1: Henry Dodge (D) 3: Isaac P. Walker (D)

House of Representatives

The names of members of the House of Representatives elected statewide on the general ticket or otherwise at-large, are preceded by an "A/L," and the names of those elected from districts, whether plural or single member, are preceded by their district numbers.

Many of the congressional district numbers are linked to articles describing the district itself. Since the boundaries of the districts have changed often and substantially, the linked article may only describe the district as it exists today, and not as it was at the time of this Congress.

Alabama 1: William J. Alston (W) 2: Henry W. Hilliard (W) 3: Sampson W. Harris (D) 4: Samuel W. Inge (D) 5: David Hubbard (D) 6: Williamson R. W. Cobb (D) 7: Franklin W. Bowdon (D) Arkansas A/L: Robert W. Johnson (D) California A/L: Edward Gilbert (D) A/L: George W. Wright (I) Connecticut 1: Loren P. Waldo (D) 2: Walter Booth (FS) 3: Chauncey F. Cleveland (D) 4: Thomas B. Butler (W) Delaware A/L: John W. Houston (W) Florida A/L: Edward C. Cabell (W) Georgia 1: Thomas B. King (W) Joseph W. Jackson (D) 2: Marshall J. Wellborn (D) 3: Allen F. Owen (W) 4: Hugh A. Haralson (D) 5: Thomas C. Hackett (D) 6: Howell Cobb (D) 7: Alexander H. Stephens (W) 8: Robert A. Toombs (W) Illinois 1: William H. Bissell (D) 2: John A. McClernand (D) 3: Timothy R. Young (D) 4: John Wentworth (D) 5: William A. Richardson (D) 6: Edward D. Baker (W) 7: Thomas L. Harris (D) Indiana 1: Nathaniel Albertson (D) 2: Cyrus L. Dunham (D) 3: John L. Robinson (D) 4: George W. Julian (FS) 5: William J. Brown (D) 6: Willis A. Gorman (D) 7: Edward W. McGaughey (W) 8: Joseph E. McDonald (D) 9: Graham N. Fitch (D) 10: Andrew J. Harlan (D) Iowa 1: William Thompson (D) Daniel F. Miller (W) 2: Shepherd Leffler (D) Kentucky 1: Linn Boyd (D) 2: James L. Johnson (W) 3: Finis E. McLean (W) 4: George A. Caldwell (D) 5: John B. Thompson (W) 6: Daniel Breck (W) 7: Humphrey Marshall (W) 8: Charles S. Morehead (W) 9: John C. Mason (D) 10: Richard H. Stanton (D) Louisiana 1: Emile La Sére (D) 2: Charles M. Conrad (W) Henry A. Bullard (W) 3: John H. Harmanson (D) Alexander G. Penn (D) 4: Isaac E. Morse (D) Maine 1: Elbridge Gerry (D) 2: Nathaniel S. Littlefield (D) 3: John Otis (W) 4: Rufus K. Goodenow (W) 5: Cullen Sawtelle (D) 6: Charles Stetson (D) 7: Thomas J. D. Fuller (D) Maryland 1: Richard J. Bowie (W) 2: William T. Hamilton (D) 3: Edward Hammond (D) 4: Robert M. McLane (D) 5: Alexander Evans (W) 6: John B. Kerr (W)

Massachusetts 1: Robert C. Winthrop (W) Samuel A. Eliot (W) 2: Daniel P. King (W) 3: James H. Duncan (W) 4: vacant 5: Charles Allen (FS) 6: George Ashmun (W) 7: Julius Rockwell (W) 8: Horace Mann (W) 9: Orin Fowler (W) 10: Joseph Grinnell (W) Michigan 1: Alexander W. Buel (D) 2: William Sprague (W) 3: Kinsley S. Bingham (D) Mississippi 1: Jacob Thompson (D) 2: Winfield S. Featherston (D) 3: William McWillie (D) 4: Albert G. Brown (D) Missouri 1: James B. Bowlin (D) 2: William V. Bay (D) 3: James S. Green (D) 4: Willard P. Hall (D) 5: John S. Phelps (D) New Hampshire 1: Amos Tuck (FS) 2: Charles H. Peaslee (D) 3: James Wilson (W) George W. Morrison (D) 4: Harry Hibbard (D) New Jersey 1: Andrew K. Hay (W) 2: William A. Newell (W) 3: Isaac Wildrick (D) 4: John Van Dyke (W) 5: James G. King (W) New York 1: John A. King (W) 2: David A. Bokee (W) 3: J. Phillips Phoenix (W) 4: Walter Underhill (W) 5: George Briggs (W) 6: James Brooks (W) 7: William Nelson (W) 8: Ransom Halloway (W) 9: Thomas McKissock (W) 10: Herman D. Gould (W) 11: Peter H. Silvester (W) 12: Gideon Reynolds (W) 13: John L. Schoolcraft (W) 14: George R. Andrews (W) 15: John R. Thurman (W) 16: Hugh White (W) 17: Henry P. Alexander (W) 18: Preston King (FS) 19: Charles E. Clarke (W) 20: Orsamus B. Matteson (W) 21: Hiram Walden (D) 22: Henry Bennett (W) 23: William Duer (W) 24: Daniel Gott (W) 25: Harmon S. Conger (W) 26: William T. Jackson (W) 27: William A. Sackett (W) 28: Abraham M. Schermerhorn (W) 29: Robert L. Rose (W) 30: David Rumsey, Jr. (W) 31: Elijah Risley (W) 32: Elbridge G. Spaulding (W) 33: Harvey Putnam (W) 34: Lorenzo Burrows (W) North Carolina 1: Thomas L. Clingman (W) 2: Joseph P. Caldwell (W) 3: Edmund Deberry (W) 4: Augustine H. Shepperd (W) 5: Abraham W. Venable (D) 6: John R. J. Daniel (D) 7: William S. Ashe (D) 8: Edward Stanly (W) 9: David Outlaw (W) Ohio 1: David T. Disney (D) 2: Lewis D. Campbell (W) 3: Robert C. Schenck (W) 4: Moses B. Corwin (W) 5: Emery D. Potter (D) 6: Rodolphus Dickinson (D) Amos E. Wood (D) John Bell (W) 7: Jonathan D. Morris (D) 8: John L. Taylor (W) 9: Edson B. Olds (D) 10: Charles Sweetser (D) 11: John K. Miller (D) 12: Samuel F. Vinton (W) 13: William A. Whittlesey (D) 14: Nathan Evans (W) 15: William F. Hunter (W) 16: Moses Hoagland (D) 17: Joseph Cable (D) 18: David K. Cartter (D) 19: John Crowell (W) 20: Joshua R. Giddings (FS) 21: Joseph M. Root (FS)

Pennsylvania 1: Lewis C. Levin (A) 2: Joseph R. Chandler (W) 3: Henry D. Moore (W) 4: John Robbins, Jr. (D) 5: John Freedley (W) 6: Thomas Ross (D) 7: Jesse C. Dickey (W) 8: Thaddeus Stevens (W) 9: William Strong (D) 10: Milo M. Dimmick (D) 11: Chester P. Butler (W) John Brisbin (D) 12: David Wilmot (D) 13: Joseph Casey (W) 14: Charles W. Pitman (W) 15: Henry Nes (W) Joel B. Danner (D) 16: James X. McLanahan (D) 17: Samuel Calvin (W) 18: Andrew J. Ogle (W) 19: Job Mann (D) 20: Robert R. Reed (W) 21: Moses Hampton (W) 22: John W. Howe (FS) 23: James Thompson (D) 24: Alfred Gilmore (D) Rhode Island 1: George G. King (W) 2: Nathan F. Dixon, Jr. (W) South Carolina 1: Daniel Wallace (D) 2: James L. Orr (D) 3: Joseph A. Woodward (D) 4: Alexander D. Sims (D) John McQueen (D) 5: Armistead Burt (D) 6: Isaac E. Holmes (D) 7: William F. Colcock (D) Tennessee 1: Andrew Johnson (D) 2: Albert G. Watkins (W) 3: Josiah M. Anderson (W) 4: John H. Savage (D) 5: George W. Jones (D) 6: James H. Thomas (D) 7: Meredith P. Gentry (W) 8: Andrew Ewing (D) 9: Isham G. Harris (D) 10: Frederick P. Stanton (D) 11: Christopher H. Williams (W) Texas 1: David S. Kaufman (D) 2: Volney E. Howard (D) Vermont 1: William Henry (W) 2: William Hebard (W) 3: George P. Marsh (W) James Meacham (W) 4: Lucius B. Peck (D) Virginia 1: John S. Millson (D) 2: Richard K. Meade (D) 3: Thomas H. Averett (D) 4: Thomas S. Bocock (D) 5: Paulus Powell (D) 6: James A. Seddon (D) 7: Thomas H. Bayly (D) 8: Alexander R. Holladay (D) 9: Jeremiah Morton (W) 10: Richard Parker (D) 11: James McDowell (D) 12: Henry A. Edmundson (D) 13: LaFayette McMullen (D) 14: James M. H. Beale (D) 15: Alexander Newman (D) Thomas S. Haymond (W) Wisconsin 1: Charles Durkee (FS) 2: Orsamus Cole (W) 3: James D. Doty (D)

Delegates

Minnesota Territory A/L: Henry H. Sibley

Oregon Territory A/L: Samuel R. Thurston (D)

Membership detail by state

Senators were elected by the state legislatures every two years, with one-third beginning new six year terms with each Congress. Preceding the names in the list below are Senate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their election. In this Congress, Class 1 meant their term ended with this Congress, requiring reelection in 1850; Class 2 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1852; and Class 3 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1854.

The names of members of the House of Representatives elected statewide on the general ticket or otherwise at-large, are preceded by an "A/L," and the names of those elected from districts, whether plural or single member, are preceded by their district numbers.

Many of the congressional district numbers are linked to articles describing the district itself. Since the boundaries of the districts have changed often and substantially, the linked article may only describe the district as it exists today, and not as it was at the time of this Congress.

The list below is arranged by state, then by chamber. Senators are shown in order of seniority, House members in district order.

Alabama

Senate

• 3: William R. D. King (1786-1853), Democratic
• 2: Benjamin Fitzpatrick (1802-1869), Democratic

  Jeremiah Clemens (1814-1865), Democratic …elected to fill vacancy from preceding Congress, November 30, 1849.

House of Representatives (7 seats)

• 1: William J. Alston (1800-1876), Whig
• 2: Henry W. Hilliard (1808-1892), Whig
• 3: Sampson W. Harris (1809-1857), Democratic
• 4: Samuel W. Inge (1817-1868), Democratic
• 5: David Hubbard (1792-1874), Democratic
• 6: Williamson R. W. Cobb (1807-1864), Democratic
• 7: Franklin W. Bowdon (1817-1857), Democratic

Arkansas

Senate

• 3: Solon Borland (1808-1864), Democratic
• 2: William K. Sebastian (1812-1865), Democratic

House of Representatives (1 seat)

• A/L: Robert W. Johnson (1814-1879), Democratic

California

Senate

• 3: William M. Gwin (1805-1885), Democratic …newly admitted state, elected September 9, 1850.
• 1: John C. Frémont (1813-1890), Democratic …newly admitted state, elected September 9, 1850.

House of Representatives (2 seats)

• A/L: Edward Gilbert (1819c-1852), Democratic …newly admitted state, seated September 11, 1850.
• A/L: George W. Wright (1816-1885), Independent …newly admitted state, seated September 11, 1850.

Connecticut

Senate

• 1: Roger S. Baldwin (1793-1863), Whig
• 3: Truman Smith (1791-1884), Whig

House of Representatives (4 seats)

• 1: Loren P. Waldo (1802-1881), Democratic
• 2: Walter Booth (1791-1870), Free Soil
• 3: Chauncey F. Cleveland (1799-1887), Democratic
• 4: Thomas B. Butler (1806-1873), Whig

Delaware

Senate

• 2: Presley Spruance (1785-1863), Whig
• 1: John Wales (1783-1863), Whig

House of Representatives (1 seat)

• A/L: John W. Houston (1814-1896), Whig

Florida

Senate

• 1: David Levy Yulee (1810-1886), Democratic
• 3: Jackson Morton (1794-1874), Whig

House of Representatives (1 seat)

• A/L: Edward C. Cabell (1816-1896), Whig

Georgia

Senate

• 2: John Mcpherson Berrien (1781-1856), Whig
• 3: William C. Dawson (1798-1856), Whig

House of Representatives (8 seats)

• 1: Thomas B. King (1800-1864), Whig …resigned in 1850.

  Joseph W. Jackson (1796-1854), Democratic …elected to fill vacancy, March 4, 1850.

• 2: Marshall J. Wellborn (1808-1874), Democratic
• 3: Allen F. Owen (1816-1865), Whig
• 4: Hugh A. Haralson (1805-1854), Democratic
• 5: Thomas C. Hackett ( -1851), Democratic
• 6: Howell Cobb (1815-1868), Democratic
• 7: Alexander H. Stephens (1812-1883), Whig
• 8: Robert A. Toombs (1810-1885), Whig

Illinois

Senate

• 2: Stephen A. Douglas (1813-1861), Democratic
• 3: James Shields (1806/1810-1879), Democratic …seat declared vacant March 15, 1894, subsequently elected to fill vacancy October 27, 1849.

House of Representatives (7 seats)

• 1: William H. Bissell (1811-1860), Democratic
• 2: John A. McClernand (1812-1900), Democratic
• 3: Timothy R. Young (1811-1898), Democratic
• 4: John Wentworth (1815-1888), Democratic
• 5: William A. Richardson (1811-1875), Democratic
• 6: Edward D. Baker (1811-1861), Whig
• 7: Thomas L. Harris (1816-1858), Democratic

Indiana

Senate

• 1: Jesse D. Bright (1812-1875), Democratic
• 3: James Whitcomb (1795-1852), Democratic

House of Representatives (10 seats)

• 1: Nathaniel Albertson (1800-1863), Democratic
• 2: Cyrus L. Dunham (1817-1877), Democratic
• 3: John L. Robinson (1813-1860), Democratic
• 4: George W. Julian (1817-1899), Free Soil
• 5: William J. Brown (1805-1857), Democratic
• 6: Willis A. Gorman (1816-1876), Democratic
• 7: Edward W. McGaughey (1817-1852), Whig
• 8: Joseph E. McDonald (1819-1891), Democratic
• 9: Graham N. Fitch (1809-1892), Democratic
• 10: Andrew J. Harlan (1815-1907), Democratic

Iowa

Senate

• 3: Augustus C. Dodge]] (1812-1883), Democratic
• 2: George W. Jones (1804-1896), Democratic

House of Representatives (2 seats)

• 1: William Thompson (1813-1897), Democratic …contested election, served until June 2, 1850.

  Daniel F. Miller (1814-1895), Whig …elected to fill vacancy, seated December 20, 1850.

• 2: Shepherd Leffler (1811-1879), Democratic

Kentucky

Senate

• 2: Joseph R. Underwood (1791-1876), Whig
• 3: Henry Clay (1777-1852), Whig

House of Representatives (10 seats)

• 1: Linn Boyd (1800-1859), Democratic
• 2: James L. Johnson (1818-1877), Whig
• 3: Finis E. McLean (1806-1881), Whig
• 4: George A. Caldwell (1814-1866), Democratic
• 5: John B. Thompson (1810-1874), Whig
• 6: Daniel Breck (1788-1871), Whig
• 7: Humphrey Marshall (1812-1872), Whig
• 8: Charles S. Morehead (1802-1868), Whig
• 9: John C. Mason (1802-1865), Democratic
• 10: Richard H. Stanton (1812-181), Democratic

Louisiana

Senate

• 2: Solomon W. Downs (1801-1854), Democratic
• 3: Pierre Soulé (1801-1870), Democratic

House of Representatives (4 seats)

• 1: Emile La Sére (1802-1882), Democratic
• 2: Charles M. Conrad (1804-1878), Whig …resigned August 17, 1850.

  Henry A. Bullard (1788-1851), Whig …elected to fill vacancy, seated December 5, 1850.

• 3: John H. Harmanson (1803-1850), Democratic …died October 25, 1850.

  Alexander G. Penn (1799-1866), Democratic …elected to fill vacancy, seated December 30, 1850.

• 4: Isaac E. Morse (1809-1866), Democratic

Maine

Senate

• 2: James W. Bradbury (1802-1901), Democratic
• 1: Hannibal Hamlin (1809-1891), Democratic

House of Representatives (7 seats)

• 1: Elbridge Gerry (1813-1886), Democratic
• 2: Nathaniel S. Littlefield (1804-1882), Democratic
• 3: John Otis (1801-1856), Whig
• 4: Rufus K. Goodenow (1790-1863), Whig
• 5: Cullen Sawtelle (1805-1887), Democratic
• 6: Charles Stetson (1801-1863), Democratic
• 7: Thomas J. D. Fuller (1808-1876), Democratic

Maryland

Senate

• 3: James A. Pearce (1805-1862), Whig
• 1: Reverdy Johnson (1796-1876), Whig …resigned March 7, 1849.

  David Stewart (1800-1858), Whig …appointed to fill vacancy, December 6, 1849.

  Thomas G. Pratt (1804-1869), Whig …elected to fill vacancy, January 12, 1850.

House of Representatives ( seats)

• 1: Richard J. Bowie (1807-1881), Whig
• 2: William T. Hamilton (1820-1888), Democratic
• 3: Edward Hammond (1812-1882), Democratic
• 4: Robert M. McLane (1815-1898), Democratic
• 5: Alexander Evans (1818-1888), Whig
• 6: John B. Kerr (180-1878), Whig

Massachusetts

Senate

• 1: Daniel Webster (1782-1852), Whig …resigned July 22, 1850.

  Robert C. Winthrop (1800-1894), Whig …appointed to fill vacancy, July 30, 1850.

  Robert J. Rantoul, Jr. (1805-1852), Democratic …elected to fill vacancy, seated February 1, 1851.

• 2: John Davis (1787-1854), Whig

House of Representatives (10 seats)

• 1: Robert C. Winthrop (1809-1894), Whig …resigned July 30, 1850.

  Samuel A. Eliot (1798-1862), Whig …elected to fill vacancy, seated August 22, 1850.

• 2: Daniel P. King (1801-1850), Whig …died July 25, 1850.
• 3: James H. Duncan (1793-1869), Whig
• 4: vacant
• 5: Charles Allen (1797-1869), Free Soil
• 6: George Ashmun (1804-1870), Whig
• 7: Julius Rockwell (1805-1888), Whig
• 8: Horace Mann (1796-1859), Whig
• 9: Orin Fowler (1791-1852), Whig
• 10: Joseph Grinnell (1788-1885), Whig

Michigan

Senate

• 1: Lewis Cass (1782-1866), Democratic
• 2: Alpheus Felch (1804-1896), Democratic

House of Representatives (3 seats)

• 1: Alexander W. Buel (1813-1868), Democratic
• 2: William Sprague (1809-1868), Whig
• 3: Kinsley S. Bingham (1808-1861), Democratic

Mississippi

Senate

• 2: Henry S. Foote (1804-1880), Democratic
• 1: Jefferson Davis (1808-1889), Democratic

House of Representatives (4 seats)

• 1: Jacob Thompson (1810-1885), Democratic
• 2: Winfield S. Featherston (1820-1891), Democratic
• 3: William McWillie (1795-1869), Democratic
• 4: Albert G. Brown (1813-1880), Democratic

Missouri

Senate

• 1: Thomas H. Benton (1782-1858), Democratic
• 3: David R. Atchison (1807-1886), Democratic

House of Representatives (5 seats)

• 1: James B. Bowlin (1804-1874), Democratic
• 2: William V. Bay (1818-1894), Democratic
• 3: James S. Green (1817-1870), Democratic
• 4: Willard P. Hall (1820-1882), Democratic
• 5: John S. Phelps (1814-1886), Democratic

New Hampshire

Senate

• 2: John P. Hale (1806-1873), Free Soil
• 3: Moses Norris, Jr. (1799-1855), Democratic

House of Representatives (4 seats)

• 1: Amos Tuck (1810-1879), Free Soil
• 2: Charles H. Peaslee (1804-1866), Democratic
• 3: James Wilson (1797-1881), Whig …resigned September 9, 1850.

  George W. Morrison (1809-1888), Democratic …elected to fill vacancy, seated December 2, 1850.

• 4: Harry Hibbard (1816-1872), Democratic

New Jersey

Senate

• 2: Jacob W. Miller (1800-1862), Whig
• 1: William L. Dayton (1807-1864), Whig

House of Representatives (5 seats)

• 1: Andrew K. Hay (1809-1881), Whig
• 2: William A. Newell (1817-1901), Whig
• 3: Isaac Wildrick (1803-1892), Democratic
• 4: John Van Dyke (1807-1878), Whig
• 5: James G. King (171-1853), Whig

New York

Senate

• 1: Daniel S. Dickinson (1800-1866), Democratic
• 3: William H. Seward (1801-1872), Whig

House of Representatives (34 seats)

• 1: John A. King (1788-1867), Whig
• 2: David A. Bokee (1805-1860), Whig
• 3: J. Phillips Phoenix (1788-1859), Whig
• 4: Walter Underhill (1795-1866), Whig
• 5: George Briggs (1805-1869), Whig
• 6: James Brooks (1810-1873), Whig
• 7: William Nelson (1784-1869), Whig
• 8: Ransom Halloway (1793c-1851), Whig
• 9: Thomas McKissock (1790-1866), Whig
• 10: Herman D. Gould (1799-1852), Whig
• 11: Peter H. Silvester (1807-1882), Whig
• 12: Gideon Reynolds (1813-1896), Whig
• 13: John L. Schoolcraft (1804-1860), Whig
• 14: George R. Andrews (1808-1873), Whig
• 15: John R. Thurman (1814-1854), Whig
• 16: Hugh White (1798-1870), Whig
• 17: Henry P. Alexander (1801-1867), Whig
• 18: Preston King (1806-1865), Free Soil
• 19: Charles E. Clarke (1790-1863), Whig
• 20: Orsamus B. Matteson (1805-1889), Whig
• 21: Hiram Walden (1800-1880), Democratic
• 22: Henry Bennett (1808-1868), Whig
• 23: William Duer (1805-1879), Whig
• 24: Daniel Gott (1794-1864), Whig
• 25: Harmon S. Conger (1816-1882), Whig
• 26: William T. Jackson (1794-1882), Whig
• 27: William A. Sackett (1811-1895), Whig
• 28: Abraham M. Schermerhorn (1791-1855), Whig
• 29: Robert L. Rose (1804-1877), Whig
• 30: David Rumsey, Jr. (1810-1883), Whig
• 31: Elijah Risley (1787-1870), Whig
• 32: Elbridge G. Spaulding (1809-1897), Whig
• 33: Harvey Putnam (1793-1855), Whig
• 34: Lorenzo Burrows (1805-1885), Whig

North Carolina

Senate

• 2: Willie P. Mangum (1792-1861), Whig
• 3: George E. Badger (1795-1866), Whig

House of Representatives ( seats)

• 1: Thomas L. Clingman (1812-1897), Whig
• 2: Joseph P. Caldwell (1808-1853), Whig
• 3: Edmund Deberry (1787-1859), Whig
• 4: Augustine H. Shepperd (1792-1864), Whig
• 5: Abraham W. Venable (1799-1876), Democratic
• 6: John R. J. Daniel (1802-1868), Democratic
• 7: William S. Ashe (1814-1862), Democratic
• 8: Edward Stanly (1810-1872), Whig
• 9: David Outlaw (1806-1868), Whig

Ohio

Senate

• 1: Thomas Corwin (1794-1865), Whig …resigned July 20 1850.

  Thomas Ewing (1789-1871), Whig …appointed to fill vacancy, July 20, 1850.

• 3: Salmon P. Chase (1808-1873), Free Soil

House of Representatives (21 seats)

• 1: David T. Disney (1803-1857), Democratic
• 2: Lewis D. Campbell (1811-1882), Whig
• 3: Robert C. Schenck (1809-1890), Whig
• 4: Moses B. Corwin (1790-1872), Whig
• 5: Emery D. Potter (1804-1869), Democratic
• 6: Rodolphus Dickinson (1797-184), Democratic …died March 20, 1849

  John Bell (1796-1869), Whig …elected to fill vacancy, seated January 7, 1851.

  Amos E. Wood (1810-1850), Democratic …elected to fill vacancy, seated December 3, 1849, died November 1, 1850.

• 7: Jonathan D. Morris (1804-1875), Democratic
• 8: John L. Taylor (1805-1870), Whig
• 9: Edson B. Olds (1802-1869), Democratic
• 10: Charles Sweetser (1808-1864), Democratic
• 11: John K. Miller (1819-1863), Democratic
• 12: Samuel F. Vinton (1792-1862), Whig
• 13: William A. Whittlesey (1796-1866), Democratic
• 14: Nathan Evans (1804-1879), Whig
• 15: William F. Hunter (1808-1874), Whig
• 16: Moses Hoagland (1812-1865), Democratic
• 17: Joseph Cable (1801-1880), Democratic
• 18: David K. Cartter (1812-1887), Democratic
• 19: John Crowell (1801-1883), Whig
• 20: Joshua R. Giddings (1795-1864), Free Soil
• 21: Joseph M. Root (1807-1879), Free Soil

Pennsylvania

Senate

• 1: Daniel Sturgeon (1789-1878), Democratic
• 3: James Cooper (1810-1863), Whig

House of Representatives (24 seats)

• 1: Lewis C. Levin (1808-1860), American
• 2: Joseph R. Chandler (1792-1880), Whig
• 3: Henry D. Moore (1817-1887), Whig
• 4: John Robbins, Jr. (1808-1880), Democratic
• 5: John Freedley (1793-1851), Whig
• 6: Thomas Ross (1806-1865), Democratic
• 7: Jesse C. Dickey (1808-1890), Whig
• 8: Thaddeus Stevens (1792-1868), Whig
• 9: William Strong (1808-1895), Democratic
• 10: Milo M. Dimmick (1811-1872), Democratic
• 11: Chester P. Butler (1798-1850), Whig …died October 5, 1850.

  John Brisbin (1818-1880), Democratic …elected to fill vacancy, seated January 13, 1851.

• 12: David Wilmot (1814-1868), Democratic
• 13: Joseph Casey (1814-1879), Whig
• 14: Charles W. Pitman ( -1871), Whig
• 15: Henry Nes (1799-1850), Whig …died September 10, 1850.

  Joel B. Danner (1804-1885), Democratic …elected to fill vacancy, seated December 2, 1850.

• 16: James X. McLanahan (1809-1861), Democratic
• 17: Samuel Calvin (1811-1890), Whig
• 18: Andrew J. Ogle (1822-1852), Whig
• 19: Job Mann (175-1873), Democratic
• 20: Robert R. Reed (1807-1864), Whig
• 21: Moses Hampton (1803-1878), Whig
• 22: John W. Howe (1801-1873), Free Soil
• 23: James Thompson (1806-1874), Democratic
• 24: Alfred Gilmore (1812-180), Democratic

Rhode Island

Senate

• 1: Albert C. Greene (1792-1863), Whig
• 2: John H. Clarke (178-1870), Whig

House of Representatives (2 seats)

• 1: George G. King (1807-1870), Whig
• 2: Nathan F. Dixon, Jr. (1812-1881), Whig

South Carolina

Senate

• 2: John C. Calhoun (1782-1850), Democratic …died March 31, 1850.

  Franklin H. Elmore (1799-1850), Democratic …appointed to fill vacancy, April 11, 1850, died May 2, 1850.

  Robert W. Barnwell (1801-1882), Democratic …appointed to fill vacancy, June 4, 1850.

  R. Barnwell Rhett (1800-1876), Democratic …elected to fill vacancy, December 18, 1850.

• 3: Andrew P. Butler (1796-1857), Democratic

House of Representatives (7 seats)

• 1: Daniel Wallace (1801-1859), Democratic
• 2: James L. Orr (1822-1873), Democratic
• 3: Joseph A. Woodward (1806-1885), Democratic
• 4: Alexander D. Sims (1803-1848), Democratic …died November 16, 1848.

  John McQueen (1804-1867), Democratic …elected to fill vacancy from preceding Congress.

• 5: Armistead Burt (1802-1883), Democratic
• 6: Isaac E. Holmes (1796-1867), Democratic
• 7: William F. Colcock (1804-1889), Democratic

Tennessee

Senate

• 1: Hopkins L. Turney (1797-1857), Democratic
• 2: John Bell (1797-1869), Whig

House of Representatives (11 seats)

• 1: Andrew Johnson (1808-1875), Democratic
• 2: Albert G. Watkins (1818-1895), Whig
• 3: Josiah M. Anderson (1807-1861), Whig
• 4: John H. Savage (1815-1904), Democratic
• 5: George W. Jones (1806-1884), Democratic
• 6: James H. Thomas (1808-1876), Democratic
• 7: Meredith P. Gentry (1809-1866), Whig
• 8: Andrew Ewing (1813-1864), Democratic
• 9: Isham G. Harris (1818-1897), Democratic
• 10: Frederick P. Stanton (1814-1894), Democratic
• 11: Christopher H. Williams (1798-1857), Whig

Texas

Senate

• 2: Samuel Houston (1793-1863), Democratic
• 1: Thomas J. Rusk (1803-1857), Democratic

House of Representatives (2 seats)

• 1: David S. Kaufman (1813-1851), Democratic …died January 31, 1851.
• 2: Volney E. Howard (1809-188), Democratic

Vermont

Senate

• 1: Samuel S. Phelps (1793-1855), Whig
• 3: William Upham (1792-1853), Whig

House of Representatives (4 seats)

• 1: William Henry (1788-1861), Whig
• 2: William Hebard (1800-1875), Whig
• 3: George P. Marsh (1801-1882), Whig …resigned in 1849.

  James Meacham (1810-1856), Whig …elected to fill vacancy, seated December 3, 1849.

• 4: Lucius B. Peck (1802-1866), Democratic

Virginia

Senate

• 1: James M. Mason (1798-1871), Democratic
• 2: Robert M. T. Hunter (1809-1887), Democratic

House of Representatives (15 seats)

• 1: John S. Millson (1808-1874), Democratic
• 2: Richard K. Meade (1803-1862), Democratic
• 3: Thomas H. Averett (1800-1855), Democratic
• 4: Thomas S. Bocock (1815-1891), Democratic
• 5: Paulus Powell (180-1874), Democratic
• 6: James A. Seddon (1815-1880), Democratic
• 7: Thomas H. Bayly (1810-1856), Democratic
• 8: Alexander R. Holladay (1811-1877), Democratic
• 9: Jeremiah Morton (1799-1878), Whig
• 10: Richard Parker (1810-1893), Democratic
• 11: James McDowell (1795-1851), Democratic
• 12: Henry A. Edmundson (1814-1890), Democratic
• 13: LaFayette McMullen (1805-1880), Democratic
• 14: James M. H. Beale (1786-1866), Democratic
• 15: Alexander Newman (1804-1849), Democratic …died September 8, 1849.

  Thomas S. Haymond (1794-1869), Whig …elected to fill vacancy, seated December 3, 1849.

Wisconsin

Senate

• 1: Henry Dodge (1782-1867), Democratic
• 3: Isaac P. Walker (1815-1872), Democratic

House of Representatives (3 seats)

• 1: Charles Durkee (1805-1870), Free Soil
• 2: Orsamus Cole (1819-1903), Whig
• 3: James D. Doty (1799-1865), Democratic

Delegates

Minnesota Territory

• A/L: Henry H. Sibley (1811-1891), …newly formed territory, seated December 3, 1849.

Oregon Territory

• A/L: Samuel R. Thurston (1816-1851), Democratic …newly formed territory, seated December 3, 1849.

Membership detail by Chamber/Party

The list below is arranged by chamber, then by political party. Members are shown in alphabetical order.

Senate

Senators were elected by the state legislatures every two years, with one-third beginning new six year terms with each Congress.

Democratic

A-F David R. Atchison, Missouri Robert W. Barnwell, South Carolina Thomas H. Benton, Missouri Solon Borland, Arkansas James W. Bradbury, Maine Jesse D. Bright, Indiana Andrew P. Butler, South Carolina John C. Calhoun, South Carolina Lewis Cass, Michigan Jeremiah Clemens, Alabama Jefferson Davis, Mississippi Daniel S. Dickinson, New York Augustus C. Dodge, Iowa Henry Dodge, Wisconsin Stephen A. Douglas, Illinois Solomon W. Downs, Louisiana Franklin H. Elmore, South Carolina Alpheus Felch, Michigan Benjamin Fitzpatrick, Alabama Henry S. Foote, Mississippi John C. Frémont, California

G-R William M. Gwin, California Hannibal Hamlin, Maine Samuel Houston, Texas Robert M. T. Hunter, Virginia George W. Jones, Iowa William R. D. King, Alabama David Levy Yulee, Florida James M. Mason, Virginia Moses Norris, Jr., New Hampshire Robert J. Rantoul, Jr., Massachusetts R. Barnwell Rhett, South Carolina Thomas J. Rusk, Texas

S-Z William K. Sebastian, Arkansas James Shields, Illinois Pierre Soulé, Louisiana Daniel Sturgeon, Pennsylvania Hopkins L. Turney, Tennessee Isaac P. Walker, Wisconsin James Whitcomb, Indiana David Levy Yulee , Florida

Whig

A-F George E. Badger, North Carolina Roger S. Baldwin, Connecticut John Bell, Tennessee John Mcpherson Berrien, Georgia John H. Clarke, Rhode Island Henry Clay, Kentucky James Cooper, Pennsylvania Thomas Corwin, Ohio John Davis, Massachusetts John Davis, Massachusetts William C. Dawson, Georgia William L. Dayton, New Jersey Thomas Ewing, Ohio

G-R Albert C. Greene, Rhode Island Reverdy Johnson, Maryland Willie P. Mangum, North Carolina Jacob W. Miller, New Jersey Jackson Morton, Florida James A. Pearce, Maryland Samuel S. Phelps, Vermont Thomas G. Pratt, Maryland

S-Z William H. Seward, New York Truman Smith, Connecticut Presley Spruance, Delaware David Stewart, Maryland Joseph R. Underwood, Kentucky William Upham, Vermont John Wales, Delaware Daniel Webster, Massachusetts Robert C. Winthrop, Massachusetts

Free Soil

Salmon P. Chase, Ohio John P. Hale, New Hampshire

House of Representatives

Members of the House of Representatives were elected by popular vote, variously to single member districts or at-large.

Democratic

A-B-C Nathaniel Albertson, Indiana William S. Ashe, North Carolina Thomas H. Averett, Virginia William V. Bay, Missouri Thomas H. Bayly, Virginia James M. H. Beale, Virginia Kinsley S. Bingham, Michigan William H. Bissell, Illinois Thomas S. Bocock, Virginia Franklin W. Bowdon, Alabama James B. Bowlin, Missouri Linn Boyd, Kentucky John Brisbin, Pennsylvania Albert G. Brown, Mississippi William J. Brown, Indiana Alexander W. Buel, Michigan Armistead Burt, South Carolina Joseph Cable, Ohio George A. Caldwell, Kentucky David K. Cartter, Ohio Chauncey F. Cleveland, Connecticut Howell Cobb, Georgia Williamson R. W. Cobb, Alabama William F. Colcock, South Carolina D-E-F John R. J. Daniel, North Carolina Joel B. Danner, Pennsylvania Rodolphus Dickinson, Ohio Milo M. Dimmick, Pennsylvania David T. Disney, Ohio James D. Doty, Wisconsin Cyrus L. Dunham, Indiana Henry A. Edmundson, Virginia Andrew Ewing, Tennessee Winfield S. Featherston, Mississippi Graham N. Fitch, Indiana Thomas J. D. Fuller, Maine

G-H-I Elbridge Gerry, Maine Edward Gilbert, California Alfred Gilmore, Pennsylvania Willis A. Gorman, Indiana James S. Green, Missouri Thomas C. Hackett, Georgia Willard P. Hall, Missouri William T. Hamilton, Maryland Edward Hammond, Maryland Hugh A. Haralson, Georgia Andrew J. Harlan, Indiana John H. Harmanson, Louisiana Isham G. Harris, Tennessee Sampson W. Harris, Alabama Thomas L. Harris, Illinois Harry Hibbard, New Hampshire Moses Hoagland, Ohio Alexander R. Holladay, Virginia Isaac E. Holmes, South Carolina Volney E. Howard, Texas David Hubbard, Alabama Samuel W. Inge, Alabama J-K-L Joseph W. Jackson, Georgia Andrew Johnson, Tennessee Robert W. Johnson, Arkansas George W. Jones, Tennessee David S. Kaufman, Texas Emile La Sére, Louisiana Shepherd Leffler, Iowa Nathaniel S. Littlefield, Maine M-N-O Job Mann, Pennsylvania John C. Mason, Kentucky John A. McClernand, Illinois Joseph E. McDonald, Indiana James McDowell, Virginia James X. McLanahan, Pennsylvania Robert M. McLane, Maryland LaFayette McMullen, Virginia John McQueen, South Carolina William McWillie, Mississippi Richard K. Meade, Virginia John K. Miller, Ohio John S. Millson, Virginia Jonathan D. Morris, Ohio George W. Morrison, New Hampshire Isaac E. Morse, Louisiana Alexander Newman, Virginia Edson B. Olds, Ohio James L. Orr, South Carolina

P-Q-R Richard Parker, Virginia Charles H. Peaslee, New Hampshire Lucius B. Peck, Vermont Alexander G. Penn, Louisiana John S. Phelps, Missouri Emery D. Potter, Ohio Paulus Powell, Virginia William A. Richardson, Illinois John Robbins, Jr., Pennsylvania John L. Robinson, Indiana Thomas Ross, Pennsylvania S-T-U-V John H. Savage, Tennessee Cullen Sawtelle, Maine James A. Seddon, Virginia Alexander D. Sims, South Carolina Frederick P. Stanton, Tennessee Richard H. Stanton, Kentucky Charles Stetson, Maine William Strong, Pennsylvania Charles Sweetser, Ohio James H. Thomas, Tennessee Jacob Thompson, Mississippi James Thompson, Pennsylvania William Thompson, Iowa Abraham W. Venable, North Carolina W-X-Y-Z Hiram Walden, New York Loren P. Waldo, Connecticut Daniel Wallace, South Carolina Marshall J. Wellborn, Georgia John Wentworth, Illinois William A. Whittlesey, Ohio Isaac Wildrick, New Jersey David Wilmot, Pennsylvania Amos E. Wood, Ohio Joseph A. Woodward, South Carolina Timothy R. Young, Illinois

Whig

A-B-C Henry P. Alexander, New York William J. Alston, Alabama Josiah M. Anderson, Tennessee George R. Andrews, New York George Ashmun, Massachusetts Edward D. Baker, Illinois John Bell, Ohio Henry Bennett, New York David A. Bokee, New York Richard J. Bowie, Maryland Daniel Breck, Kentucky George Briggs, New York James Brooks, New York Henry A. Bullard, Louisiana Lorenzo Burrows, New York Chester P. Butler, Pennsylvania Thomas B. Butler, Connecticut Edward C. Cabell, Florida Joseph P. Caldwell, North Carolina Samuel Calvin, Pennsylvania Lewis D. Campbell, Ohio Joseph Casey, Pennsylvania Joseph R. Chandler, Pennsylvania Charles E. Clarke, New York Thomas L. Clingman, North Carolina Orsamus Cole, Wisconsin Harmon S. Conger, New York Charles M. Conrad, Louisiana Moses B. Corwin, Ohio John Crowell, Ohio D-E-F Edmund Deberry, North Carolina Jesse C. Dickey, Pennsylvania Nathan F. Dixon, Jr., Rhode Island William Duer, New York James H. Duncan, Massachusetts Samuel A. Eliot, Massachusetts Alexander Evans, Maryland Nathan Evans, Ohio Orin Fowler, Massachusetts John Freedley, Pennsylvania

G-H-I Meredith P. Gentry, Tennessee Rufus K. Goodenow, Maine Daniel Gott, New York Herman D. Gould, New York Joseph Grinnell, Massachusetts Ransom Halloway, New York Moses Hampton, Pennsylvania Andrew K. Hay, New Jersey Thomas S. Haymond, Virginia William Hebard, Vermont William Henry, Vermont Henry W. Hilliard, Alabama John W. Houston, Delaware William F. Hunter, Ohio J-K-L William T. Jackson, New York James L. Johnson, Kentucky John B. Kerr, Maryland Daniel P. King, Massachusetts George G. King, Rhode Island James G. King, New Jersey John A. King, New York Thomas B. King, Georgia M-N-O Horace Mann, Massachusetts George P. Marsh, Vermont Humphrey Marshall, Kentucky Orsamus B. Matteson, New York Edward W. McGaughey, Indiana Thomas McKissock, New York Finis E. McLean, Kentucky James Meacham, Vermont Daniel F. Miller, Iowa Henry D. Moore, Pennsylvania Charles S. Morehead, Kentucky Jeremiah Morton, Virginia William Nelson, New York Henry Nes, Pennsylvania William A. Newell, New Jersey Andrew J. Ogle, Pennsylvania John Otis, Maine David Outlaw, North Carolina Allen F. Owen, Georgia

P-Q-R J. Phillips Phoenix, New York Charles W. Pitman, Pennsylvania Harvey Putnam, New York Robert R. Reed, Pennsylvania Gideon Reynolds, New York Elijah Risley, New York Julius Rockwell, Massachusetts Robert L. Rose, New York David Rumsey, Jr., New York S-T-U-V William A. Sackett, New York Robert C. Schenck, Ohio Abraham M. Schermerhorn, New York John L. Schoolcraft, New York Augustine H. Shepperd, North Carolina Peter H. Silvester, New York Elbridge G. Spaulding, New York William Sprague, Michigan Edward Stanly, North Carolina Alexander H. Stephens, Georgia Thaddeus Stevens, Pennsylvania John L. Taylor, Ohio John B. Thompson, Kentucky John R. Thurman, New York Robert A. Toombs, Georgia Walter Underhill, New York John Van Dyke, New Jersey Samuel F. Vinton, Ohio W-X-Y-Z Albert G. Watkins, Tennessee Hugh White, New York Christopher H. Williams, Tennessee James Wilson, New Hampshire

Free Soil

A-F Charles Allen, Massachusetts Walter Booth, Connecticut Charles Durkee, Wisconsin

G-O Joshua R. Giddings, Ohio John W. Howe, Pennsylvania George W. Julian, Indiana Preston King, New York

P-Z Joseph M. Root, Ohio Amos Tuck, New Hampshire

American

Lewis C. Levin, Pennsylvania

Independent

George W. Wright, California

Membership Changes

The count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this Congress.

Senate replacements: 5 Democrats (D) : no net change Whigs (W) : no net change deaths: 1 resignations: 3 seats from newly admitted states: 2 interim appointments: 4 Total seats with changes: 8

House of Representatives replacements: 11 Democrats (D) : 2 seat net gain Whigs (W) : 2 seat net loss deaths: 8 resignations: 5 contested election:1 seats from newly admitted states: 2 Total seats with changes: 16

Officers

Senate Secretary of the Senate: Asbury Dickens of North Carolina Sergeant at Arms of the Senate: Robert Beale of Virginia Chaplain of the Senate: Henry Slicer, Methodist Clement M. Butler, Episcopalian, elected January , 1850.

House of Representatives Clerk of the House: Thomas J. Campbell of Tennessee, elected January 11, 1850, died April 13, 1850. Richard M. Young of Illinois, elected April 17, 1850. Sergeant at Arms of the House: Adam J. Glossbrenner of Pennsylvania, elected January 11, 1850. Doorkeeper of the House: Robert E. Horner of New Jersey, removed May 27, 1850. Postmaster of the House: John M. Johnson of Virginia, elected January 11, 1850, Chaplain of the House: Ralph Gurley, Presbyterian