Nicholas VAN DYKE, Congress, DE (1770-1826)

VAN DYKE, Nicholas, (son of Nicholas Van Dyke [1738-1789]), a Representative and a Senator from Delaware; born in New Castle, Del., December 20, 1770; graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1788; studied law; was admitted to the bar in New Castle, Del., in 1792 and commenced the practice of law; member, State house of representatives 1799; elected as a Federalist to the Tenth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James M. Broom; reelected to the Eleventh Congress, and served from October 6, 1807, to March 3, 1811; member, State senate 1815-1816; elected as a Federalist to the United States Senate in 1817; reelected in 1823, and served from March 4, 1817, until his death in New Castle, Del., on May 21, 1826; chairman, Committee on Pensions (Sixteenth Congress); interment in Immanuel Churchyard.

Bibliography

American National Biography; Dictionary of American Biography; Munroe, John A. “Senator Nicholas Van Dyke of New Castle.” Delaware History 4 (1951): 207-226.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present