12th United States Congress

The 12th 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, 1811, to March 4, 1813, during the third and fourth years of James Madison's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1800 United States census. Both chambers had a Democratic-Republican majority.

Major events

 * November 6, 1811: Battle of Tippecanoe: William Henry Harrison defeated Tecumseh's forces
 * December 16, 1811: New Madrid earthquake
 * April 4, 1812: President Madison enacted a 90-day embargo on trade with the United Kingdom
 * April 20, 1812: Vice President George Clinton died
 * June 18, 1812: War of 1812: United States declared war on Great Britain
 * August 16, 1812: War of 1812: Detroit surrendered to the British.
 * October 13, 1812: War of 1812: the Battle of Queenston Heights
 * November 5, 1812: Elections of 1812:
 * 1812 United States presidential election: Incumbent James Madison beat DeWitt Clinton.
 * United States Senate elections, 1812 and 1813
 * United States House of Representatives elections, 1812 and 1813

States admitted and territories organized

 * April 30, 1812: Louisiana was admitted as a state into the Union. It was formerly known as the Territory of Orleans
 * June 4, 1812: Missouri Territory was organized. It was formerly known as Louisiana Territory



Party summary
The count below identifies party affiliations at the beginning of the first session of this congress. Changes resulting from subsequent replacements are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section.

Senate
During this congress, two new Senate seats were added for the new state of Louisiana.

House of Representatives
During this congress, one new House seat was added for the new state of Louisiana.

Senate

 * President: George Clinton (DR), until April 20, 1812; vacant thereafter.
 * President pro tempore: William H. Crawford (DR)

House of Representatives
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Henry Clay Democratic-Republican

Members
This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed by class, 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 began in the last Congress, requiring re-election in 1814; Class 2 meant their term began with this Congress, requiring re-election in 1816; and Class 3 meant their term ended with this Congress, requiring re-election in 1812


 * Skip to House of Representatives, below

Connecticut

 * 1. Samuel W. Dana (F)
 * 3. Chauncey Goodrich (F)

Delaware

 * 1. Outerbridge Horsey (F)
 * 2. James A. Bayard (F)

Georgia

 * 2. William H. Crawford (DR)
 * 3. Charles Tait (DR)

Kentucky

 * 2. George M. Bibb (DR)
 * 3. John Pope (DR)

Louisiana

 * 2. Jean N. Destréhan (DR), September 3, 1812 – October 1, 1812
 * Thomas Posey (DR), October 8, 1812 – February 4, 1813
 * James Brown (DR), from February 5, 1813
 * 3. Allan B. Magruder (DR), from September 3, 1812

Maryland

 * 1. Samuel Smith (DR)
 * 3. Philip Reed (DR)

Massachusetts

 * 1. James Lloyd (F)
 * 2. Joseph Bradley Varnum (DR), from June 29, 1811

New Hampshire

 * 2. Nicholas Gilman (DR)
 * 3. Charles Cutts (F)

New Jersey

 * 1. John Lambert (DR)
 * 2. John Condit (DR)

New York

 * 1. Obadiah German (DR)
 * 3. John Smith (DR)

North Carolina

 * 2. James Turner (DR)
 * 3. Jesse Franklin (DR)

Ohio

 * 1. Thomas Worthington (DR)
 * 3. Alexander Campbell (DR)

Pennsylvania

 * 1. Michael Leib (DR)
 * 3. Andrew Gregg (DR)

Rhode Island

 * 1. Christopher G. Champlin (F), until October 2, 1811
 * William Hunter (F), from October 28, 1811
 * 2. Jeremiah B. Howell (DR)

South Carolina

 * 2. John Taylor (DR)
 * 3. John Gaillard (DR)

Tennessee

 * 1. Joseph Anderson (DR)
 * 2. Jenkin Whiteside (DR), until October 8, 1811
 * George W. Campbell (DR), from October 8, 1811

Vermont

 * 1. Jonathan Robinson (DR)
 * 3. Stephen R. Bradley (DR)

Virginia

 * 1. Richard Brent (DR)
 * 2. William B. Giles (DR)



House of Representatives
The names of members of the House of Representatives are preceded by their district numbers.

Connecticut
All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district. Epaphroditus Champion (F)
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district. John Davenport (F)
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district. Lyman Law (F)
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district. Jonathan O. Moseley (F)
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district. Timothy Pitkin (F)
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district. Lewis B. Sturges (F)
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district. Benjamin Tallmadge (F)

Delaware

 * Delaware's at-large congressional district. Henry M. Ridgely (F)

Georgia
All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.
 * Georgia's at-large congressional district. William W. Bibb (DR)
 * Georgia's at-large congressional district. Howell Cobb (DR), until before October, 1812
 * William Barnett (DR), from October 5, 1812
 * Georgia's at-large congressional district. Bolling Hall (DR)
 * Georgia's at-large congressional district. George M. Troup (DR)

Kentucky

 * Kentucky's 1st congressional district. Anthony New (DR)
 * Kentucky's 2nd congressional district. Samuel McKee (DR)
 * Kentucky's 3rd congressional district. Stephen Ormsby (DR)
 * Kentucky's 4th congressional district. Richard M. Johnson (DR)
 * Kentucky's 5th congressional district. Henry Clay (DR)
 * Kentucky's 6th congressional district. Joseph Desha (DR)

Louisiana

 * Louisiana's at-large congressional district. Thomas B. Robertson (DR), from December 23, 1812 (newly admitted state)

Maryland
The 5th district was a plural district with two representatives.
 * Maryland's 1st congressional district. Philip Stuart (F)
 * Maryland's 2nd congressional district. Joseph Kent (DR)
 * Maryland's 3rd congressional district. Philip B. Key (F)
 * Maryland's 4th congressional district. Samuel Ringgold (DR)
 * Maryland's 5th congressional district. Peter Little (DR)
 * Maryland's 5th congressional district. Alexander McKim (DR)
 * Maryland's 6th congressional district. John Montgomery (DR), until April 29, 1811
 * Stevenson Archer (DR), from October 26, 1811
 * Maryland's 7th congressional district. Robert Wright (DR)
 * Maryland's 8th congressional district. Charles Goldsborough (F)

Massachusetts

 * Massachusetts's 1st congressional district. Josiah Quincy (F)
 * Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district. William Reed (F)
 * Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district. Leonard White (F)
 * Massachusetts's 4th congressional district. Joseph Bradley Varnum (DR), until June 29, 1811
 * William M. Richardson (DR), from November 4, 1811
 * Massachusetts's 5th congressional district. William Ely (F)
 * Massachusetts's 6th congressional district. Samuel Taggart (F)
 * Massachusetts's 7th congressional district. Charles Turner Jr. (DR)
 * Massachusetts's 8th congressional district. Isaiah L. Green (DR)
 * Massachusetts's 9th congressional district. Laban Wheaton (F)
 * Massachusetts's 10th congressional district. Elijah Brigham (F)
 * Massachusetts's 11th congressional district. Abijah Bigelow (F)
 * Massachusetts's 12th congressional district. Ezekiel Bacon (DR)
 * Massachusetts's 13th congressional district. Ebenezer Seaver (DR)
 * Massachusetts's 14th congressional district. Richard Cutts (DR)
 * Massachusetts's 15th congressional district. William Widgery (DR)
 * Massachusetts's 16th congressional district. Peleg Tallman (DR)
 * Massachusetts's 17th congressional district. Barzillai Gannett (DR), until sometime in 1812 before April 6
 * Francis Carr (DR), from April 6, 1812

New Hampshire
All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.
 * New Hampshire's at-large congressional district. Josiah Bartlett Jr. (DR)
 * New Hampshire's at-large congressional district. Samuel Dinsmoor (DR)
 * New Hampshire's at-large congressional district. Obed Hall (DR)
 * New Hampshire's at-large congressional district. John A. Harper (DR)
 * New Hampshire's at-large congressional district. George Sullivan (F)

New Jersey
All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.
 * New Jersey's at-large congressional district. Adam Boyd (DR)
 * New Jersey's at-large congressional district. Lewis Condict (DR)
 * New Jersey's at-large congressional district. Jacob Hufty (DR)
 * New Jersey's at-large congressional district. George C. Maxwell (DR)
 * New Jersey's at-large congressional district. James Morgan (DR)
 * New Jersey's at-large congressional district. Thomas Newbold (DR)

New York
There were two plural districts, the 2nd & 6th each had two representatives.
 * New York's 1st congressional district. Ebenezer Sage (DR)
 * New York's 2nd congressional district. Samuel L. Mitchill (DR)
 * New York's 2nd congressional district. William Paulding Jr. (DR)
 * New York's 3rd congressional district. Pierre Van Cortlandt Jr. (DR)
 * New York's 4th congressional district. James Emott (F)
 * New York's 5th congressional district. Thomas B. Cooke (DR)
 * New York's 6th congressional district. Asa Fitch (F)
 * New York's 6th congressional district. Robert Le Roy Livingston (F), until May 6, 1812
 * Thomas P. Grosvenor (F) from January 29, 1813
 * New York's 7th congressional district. Harmanus Bleecker (F)
 * New York's 8th congressional district. Benjamin Pond (DR)
 * New York's 9th congressional district. Thomas Sammons (DR)
 * New York's 10th congressional district. Silas Stow (DR)
 * New York's 11th congressional district. Thomas R. Gold (F)
 * New York's 12th congressional district. Arunah Metcalf (DR)
 * New York's 13th congressional district. Uri Tracy (DR)
 * New York's 14th congressional district. Daniel Avery (DR)
 * New York's 15th congressional district. Peter B. Porter (DR)

North Carolina

 * North Carolina's 1st congressional district. Lemuel Sawyer (DR)
 * North Carolina's 2nd congressional district. Willis Alston (DR)
 * North Carolina's 3rd congressional district. Thomas Blount (DR), until February 7, 1812
 * William Kennedy (DR), from January 30, 1813
 * North Carolina's 4th congressional district. William Blackledge (DR)
 * North Carolina's 5th congressional district. William R. King (DR)
 * North Carolina's 6th congressional district. Nathaniel Macon (DR)
 * North Carolina's 7th congressional district. Archibald McBryde (F)
 * North Carolina's 8th congressional district. Richard Stanford (DR)
 * North Carolina's 9th congressional district. James Cochran (DR)
 * North Carolina's 10th congressional district. Joseph Pearson (F)
 * North Carolina's 11th congressional district. Israel Pickens (DR)
 * North Carolina's 12th congressional district. Meshack Franklin (DR)

Ohio

 * Ohio's at-large congressional district. Jeremiah Morrow (DR)

Pennsylvania
There were four plural districts, the 1st, 2nd, & 3rd had three representatives each, the 4th had two representatives.
 * Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district. William Anderson (DR)
 * Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district. James Milnor (F)
 * Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district. Adam Seybert (DR)
 * Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district. Robert Brown (DR)
 * Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district. Jonathan Roberts (DR)
 * Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district. William Rodman (DR)
 * Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district. Roger Davis (DR)
 * Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district. John M. Hyneman (DR)
 * Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district. Joseph Lefever (DR)
 * Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district. David Bard (DR)
 * Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district. Robert Whitehill (DR)
 * Pennsylvania's 5th congressional district. George Smith (DR)
 * Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district. William Crawford (DR)
 * Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district. William Piper (DR)
 * Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district. William Findley (DR)
 * Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district. John Smilie (DR), until December 30, 1812, vacant thereafter
 * Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district. Aaron Lyle (DR)
 * Pennsylvania's 11th congressional district. Abner Lacock (DR)

Rhode Island
Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.
 * Rhode Island's at-large congressional district. Richard Jackson Jr. (F)
 * Rhode Island's at-large congressional district. Elisha R. Potter (F)

South Carolina

 * South Carolina's 1st congressional district. Langdon Cheves (DR)
 * South Carolina's 2nd congressional district. William Butler Sr. (DR)
 * South Carolina's 3rd congressional district. David R. Williams (DR)
 * South Carolina's 4th congressional district. William Lowndes (DR)
 * South Carolina's 5th congressional district. Richard Winn (DR)
 * South Carolina's 6th congressional district. John C. Calhoun (DR)
 * South Carolina's 7th congressional district. Thomas Moore (DR)
 * South Carolina's 8th congressional district. Elias Earle (DR)

Tennessee

 * Tennessee's 1st congressional district. John Rhea (DR)
 * Tennessee's 2nd congressional district. John Sevier (DR)
 * Tennessee's 3rd congressional district. Felix Grundy (DR)

Vermont

 * Vermont's 1st congressional district. Samuel Shaw (DR)
 * Vermont's 2nd congressional district. William Strong (DR)
 * Vermont's 3rd congressional district. James Fisk (DR)
 * Vermont's 4th congressional district. Martin Chittenden (F)

Virginia

 * Virginia's 1st congressional district. Thomas Wilson (F)
 * Virginia's 2nd congressional district. John Baker (F)
 * Virginia's 3rd congressional district. John Smith (DR)
 * Virginia's 4th congressional district. William McCoy (DR)
 * Virginia's 5th congressional district. James Breckinridge (F)
 * Virginia's 6th congressional district. Daniel Sheffey (F)
 * Virginia's 7th congressional district. Joseph Lewis Jr. (F)
 * Virginia's 8th congressional district. John P. Hungerford (DR), until November 29, 1811
 * John Taliaferro (DR), from November 29, 1811
 * Virginia's 9th congressional district. Aylett Hawes (DR)
 * Virginia's 10th congressional district. John Dawson (DR)
 * Virginia's 11th congressional district. John Roane (DR)
 * Virginia's 12th congressional district. Burwell Bassett (DR)
 * Virginia's 13th congressional district. William A. Burwell (DR)
 * Virginia's 14th congressional district. Matthew Clay (DR)
 * Virginia's 15th congressional district. John Randolph (DR)
 * Virginia's 16th congressional district. James Pleasants (DR)
 * Virginia's 17th congressional district. Thomas Gholson Jr. (DR)
 * Virginia's 18th congressional district. Peterson Goodwyn (DR)
 * Virginia's 19th congressional district. Edwin Gray (DR)
 * Virginia's 20th congressional district. Thomas Newton Jr. (DR)
 * Virginia's 21st congressional district. Hugh Nelson (DR)
 * Virginia's 22nd congressional district. John Clopton (DR)

Non-voting members

 * Illinois Territory's at-large congressional district. Shadrack Bond, from December 3, 1812
 * Indiana Territory's at-large congressional district. Jonathan Jennings
 * Mississippi Territory's at-large congressional district. George Poindexter
 * Missouri Territory's at-large congressional district. Edward Hempstead, from November 9, 1812
 * Orleans Territory's at-large congressional district, vacant until April 29, 1812

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

Senate

 * Replacements: 1
 * Democratic-Republicans: no net change
 * Federalists: no net change
 * Deaths: 0
 * Resignations: 4
 * Interim appointments: 1
 * Seats of newly admitted states: 2
 * Vacancies:1
 * Total seats with changes: 6


 * Massachusetts (2)
 * Vacant
 * Legislature elected late. Successor elected June 29, 1811.
 * | Joseph B. Varnum (DR)
 * June 29, 1811
 * June 29, 1811


 * Rhode Island (1)
 * | Christopher G. Champlin (F)
 * Resigned October 2, 1811 Successor elected October 28, 1811.
 * | William Hunter (F)
 * October 28, 1811
 * October 28, 1811


 * Tennessee (2)
 * | Jenkin Whiteside (DR)
 * Resigned October 8, 1811. Successor elected October 8, 1811.
 * | George W. Campbell (DR)
 * October 8, 1811
 * October 8, 1811


 * Louisiana (3)
 * New seat
 * Louisiana was admitted to the Union on April 30, 1812. Inaugural Senator elected September 3, 1812, for the term ending March 4, 1813.
 * | Allan B. Magruder (DR)
 * September 3, 1812
 * September 3, 1812


 * rowspan=3 | Louisiana (2)
 * New seat
 * Louisiana was admitted to the Union on April 30, 1812. Inaugural Senator elected September 3, 1812, for the term ending March 4, 1817.
 * | Jean Noel Destréhan (DR)
 * September 3, 1812
 * September 3, 1812


 * | Jean N. Destréhan (DR)
 * Resigned October 1, 1812, without having qualified. Successor appointed October 8, 1812, to continue the term ending March 4, 1817.
 * | Thomas Posey (DR)
 * October 8, 1812
 * October 8, 1812


 * | Thomas Posey (DR)
 * Appointee lost election to finish the term. Successor elected February 4, 1813.
 * | James Brown (DR)
 * February 5, 1813
 * February 5, 1813


 * }

House of Representatives

 * Replacements: 3
 * Democratic-Republicans: no net change
 * Federalists: no net change
 * Deaths: 2
 * Resignations: 5
 * Contested election: 1
 * Seats of newly admitted states: 1
 * Vacancies: 1
 * Total seats with changes: 10


 * Maryland's 6th congressional district
 * | John Montgomery (DR)
 * Resigned April 29, 1811, to become attorney General of Maryland
 * | Stevenson Archer (DR)
 * Seated October 26, 1811
 * Massachusetts's 4th congressional district
 * | Joseph B. Varnum (DR)
 * Resigned June 29, 1811, to become U.S. Senator
 * | William M. Richardson (DR)
 * Seated November 4, 1811
 * Virginia's 8th congressional district
 * | John Hungerford (DR)
 * Lost contested election November 29, 1811
 * | John Taliaferro (DR)
 * Seated November 29, 1811
 * Massachusetts's 17th congressional district
 * | Barzillai Gannett (DR)
 * Resigned sometime in 1812 before April 6
 * | Francis Carr (DR)
 * Seated April 6, 1812
 * North Carolina's 3rd congressional district
 * | Thomas Blount (DR)
 * Died February 7, 1812
 * | William Kennedy (DR)
 * Seated January 30, 1813
 * Orleans Territory's at-large congressional district
 * colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Julien de Lallande Poydras had resigned in the previous Congress, and the seat remained vacant until the territory became the state of Louisiana on April 30, 1812
 * rowspan=2 | Thomas B. Robertson (DR)
 * rowspan=2 | Seated April 30, 1812
 * Louisiana's at-large congressional district
 * Orleans Territory's at-large congressional district
 * colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Julien de Lallande Poydras had resigned in the previous Congress, and the seat remained vacant until the territory became the state of Louisiana on April 30, 1812
 * rowspan=2 | Thomas B. Robertson (DR)
 * rowspan=2 | Seated April 30, 1812
 * Louisiana's at-large congressional district
 * Louisiana's at-large congressional district
 * Louisiana's at-large congressional district


 * New York's 6th congressional district
 * | Robert Le Roy Livingston (F)
 * Resigned May 6, 1812
 * | Thomas P. Grosvenor (F)
 * Seated January 29, 1813
 * Georgia's at-large congressional district
 * | Howell Cobb (DR)
 * Resigned sometime before October 1812
 * | William Barnett (DR)
 * Seated October 5, 1812
 * Missouri Territory's at-large congressional district
 * colspan=2 | Territory delegate seat established
 * Edward Hempstead
 * Seated November 9, 1812
 * Illinois Territory's at-large congressional district
 * colspan=2 | Territory delegate seat established
 * Shadrach Bond
 * Seated December 3, 1812
 * Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district
 * | John Smilie (DR)
 * Died December 30, 1812
 * Vacant
 * Not filled until next Congress
 * }
 * | John Smilie (DR)
 * Died December 30, 1812
 * Vacant
 * Not filled until next Congress
 * }

Committees
Lists of committees and their party leaders.

Senate

 * Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate (Chairman: Michael Leib)
 * Engrossed Bills (Chairman: Nicholas Gilman)
 * National University
 * Whole

House of Representatives

 * Accounts (Chairman: Charles Turner Jr.)
 * Apportionment of Representatives (Select)
 * Bankruptcy (Select)
 * Claims (Chairman: Burwell Bassett then Thomas Gholson Jr.)
 * Commerce and Manufactures (Chairman: Thomas Newton Jr.)
 * District of Columbia (Chairman: Joseph Lewis Jr.)
 * Elections (Chairman: William Findley)
 * Post Office and Post Roads (Chairman: John Rhea)
 * Public Lands (Chairman: Jeremiah Morrow)
 * Revisal and Unfinished Business (Chairman: Adam Seybert then Burwell Bassett)
 * Rules (Select)
 * Standards of Official Conduct
 * Ways and Means (Chairman: Ezekiel Bacon then Langdon Cheves)
 * Whole

Joint committees

 * Enrolled Bills (Chairman: )
 * The Library (Chairman: N/A)

Legislative branch agency directors

 * Architect of the Capitol: Benjamin Latrobe, until July 1, 1811; vacant thereafter
 * Librarian of Congress: Patrick Magruder

Senate

 * Chaplain: Walter D. Addison (Presbyterian), until November 13, 1811
 * John Brackenridge (Presbyterian), from November 13, 1811
 * Secretary: Samuel A. Otis
 * Sergeant at Arms: James Mathers, died
 * Mountjoy Bayly, elected November 6, 1811

House of Representatives

 * Chaplain: Jesse Lee (Methodist), until November 13, 1811
 * Nicholas Snethen (Methodist), elected November 13, 1811
 * Jesse Lee (Methodist), elected November 2, 1812
 * Clerk: Patrick Magruder
 * Doorkeeper: Thomas Claxton
 * Reading Clerks:
 * Sergeant at Arms: Thomas Dunn