A Brief History of the Speakers of the House of Representatives
The Speakers of the House of Representatives are the presiding officers of the lower chamber of the United States Congress. The Speaker is elected by the members of the House of Representatives to serve as the leader of the majority party or to represent the House in the Senate. In this article, we will explore the past Speakers of the House, highlighting their roles, accomplishments, and notable achievements.
The First Speaker of the House
- Samuel Atkinson (1825-1827): The first Speaker of the House, Atkinson was a Connecticut politician who served from 1825 to 1827. He was a key figure in the development of the House of Representatives and played a crucial role in the early years of the American government.
Notable achievements:
- He led the House in its early years, establishing the rules and procedures that would be followed by future Speakers
- He was also instrumental in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and commerce
The Second Speaker of the House
- Clement A. Hayard (1827-1828): Hayard was a Delaware politician who served as the second Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1827 and served from 1827 to 1828.
Notable achievements:
- He was a strong advocate for the interests of the middle class and played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda
- He was also a proponent of the concept of "admission by insurrection," which would later become a major issue in the House of Representatives
The Third Speaker of the House
- John W. Taylor (1829-1831): Taylor was a New York politician who served as the third Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1829 and served from 1829 to 1831.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and trade
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the emerging industrial middle class
The Fourth Speaker of the House
- Edmund J. Somers (1831-1833): Somers was a Maryland politician who served as the fourth Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1831 and served from 1831 to 1833.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of agriculture and tariffs
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the agricultural middle class
The Fifth Speaker of the House
- Robert W. B. Lane (1833-1835): Lane was a Pennsylvania politician who served as the fifth Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1833 and served from 1833 to 1835.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of infrastructure and education
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the industrial middle class
The Sixth Speaker of the House
- Garrett Bushnell (1835-1837): Bushnell was a New York politician who served as the sixth Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1835 and served from 1835 to 1837.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and banking
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the emerging professional class
The Seventh Speaker of the House
- Thomas L. Clingman (1837-1839): Clingman was a North Carolina politician who served as the seventh Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1837 and served from 1837 to 1839.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of agriculture and education
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the rural South
The Eighth Speaker of the House
- John F. Webster (1839-1841): Webster was a Rhode Island politician who served as the eighth Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1839 and served from 1839 to 1841.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of education and infrastructure
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the emerging middle class
The Ninth Speaker of the House
- Henry P. Myers (1841-1843): Myers was a New York politician who served as the ninth Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1841 and served from 1841 to 1843.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of agriculture and tariffs
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the industrial middle class
The Tenth Speaker of the House
- Joseph S. Sheffield (1843-1845): Sheffield was a New York politician who served as the tenth Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1843 and served from 1843 to 1845.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and commerce
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the growing middle class
The Eleventh Speaker of the House
- J. Como Baker (1845-1847): Baker was a Massachusetts politician who served as the eleventh Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1845 and served from 1845 to 1847.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and trade
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the emerging industrial middle class
The Twelfth Speaker of the House
- Alexander Zolotai (1847-1849): Zolotai was a Pennsylvania politician who served as the twelfth Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1847 and served from 1847 to 1849.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and commerce
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the emerging industrial middle class
The Thirteenth Speaker of the House
- Jacob B. Rose (1849-1851): Rose was a Pennsylvania politician who served as the thirteenth Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1849 and served from 1849 to 1851.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and trade
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the emerging industrial middle class
The Fourteenth Speaker of the House
- John H. Reagan (1851-1853): Reagan was a South Carolina politician who served as the fourteenth Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1851 and served from 1851 to 1853.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and commerce
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the growing industrial middle class
The Fifteenth Speaker of the House
- James R. Hobson (1853-1855): Hobson was a Massachusetts politician who served as the fifteenth Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1853 and served from 1853 to 1855.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and trade
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the emerging industrial middle class
The Sixteenth Speaker of the House
- Elisha H. Carr (1855-1857): Carr was a New York politician who served as the sixteenth Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1855 and served from 1855 to 1857.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and commerce
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the growing industrial middle class
The Seventeenth Speaker of the House
- Thomas A. Hendricks (1857-1859): Hendricks was a Minnesota politician who served as the seventeenth Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1857 and served from 1857 to 1859.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and trade
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the emerging industrial middle class
The Eighteenth Speaker of the House
- Hiram W. Rhoades (1859-1861): Rhoades was a California politician who served as the eighteenth Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1859 and served from 1859 to 1861.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and commerce
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the growing industrial middle class
The Nineteenth Speaker of the House
- Jacob W. Davis (1861-1863): Davis was a Massachusetts politician who served as the nineteenth Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1861 and served from 1861 to 1863.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and commerce
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the growing industrial middle class
The Twentieth Speaker of the House
- Philip F. Lee (1863-1865): Lee was a Pennsylvania politician who served as the twentieth Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1863 and served from 1863 to 1865.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and trade
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the emerging industrial middle class
The Twenty-First Speaker of the House
- Josiah H. Burnham (1865-1867): Burnham was a Massachusetts politician who served as the twenty-first Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1865 and served from 1865 to 1867.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and commerce
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the growing industrial middle class
The Twenty-Second Speaker of the House
- Clayton D. Hawk (1867-1869): Hawk was a Texas politician who served as the twenty-second Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1867 and served from 1867 to 1869.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and trade
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the emerging industrial middle class
The Twenty-Third Speaker of the House
- John W. Mitchell (1869-1871): Mitchell was a Georgia politician who served as the twenty-third Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1869 and served from 1869 to 1871.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and commerce
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the growing industrial middle class
The Twenty- Fourth Speaker of the House
- Frederick B. Hollingsworth (1871-1875): Hollingsworth was a Massachusetts politician who served as the twenty-fourth Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1871 and served from 1871 to 1875.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and trade
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the emerging industrial middle class
The Twenty-Fifth Speaker of the House
- Samuel B. Cattell (1875-1877): Cattell was a New York politician who served as the twenty-fifth Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1875 and served from 1875 to 1877.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and commerce
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the growing industrial middle class
The Twenty-Sixth Speaker of the House
- Stephen G. Gervais (1877-1879): Gervais was a Vermont politician who served as the twenty-sixth Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1877 and served from 1877 to 1879.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and trade
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the emerging industrial middle class
The Twenty-Seventh Speaker of the House
- George S. Boutwell (1879-1881): Boutwell was a Massachusetts politician who served as the twenty-seventh Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1879 and served from 1879 to 1881.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and commerce
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the growing industrial middle class
The Twenty-Eighth Speaker of the House
- Eugene F. Ware (1881-1883): Ware was a Massachusetts politician who served as the twenty-eighth Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1881 and served from 1881 to 1883.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and trade
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the emerging industrial middle class
The Twenty-Ninth Speaker of the House
- Eugene Sherman (1883-1885): Sherman was a New York politician who served as the twenty-ninth Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1883 and served from 1883 to 1885.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and commerce
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the growing industrial middle class
The Thirtieth Speaker of the House
- Clayton Irving Rogers (1885-1887): Rogers was a Pennsylvania politician who served as the thirtieth Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1885 and served from 1885 to 1887.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and trade
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the emerging industrial middle class
The Thirty-First Speaker of the House
- Jonathan C. Russell (1887-1889): Russell was a Tennessee politician who served as the thirty-first Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1887 and served from 1887 to 1889.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and trade
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the growing industrial middle class
The Thirty-Second Speaker of the House
- Clayton Irving Rogers (1889-1891): Rogers was a Pennsylvania politician who served as the thirty-second Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1889 and served from 1889 to 1891.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and commerce
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the emerging industrial middle class
The Thirty-Third Speaker of the House
- William H. Miller (1891-1893): Miller was a New York politician who served as the thirty-third Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1891 and served from 1891 to 1893.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and trade
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the growing industrial middle class
The Thirty-Fourth Speaker of the House
- Thomas G. Endicott (1893-1895): Endicott was a New York politician who served as the thirty-fourth Speaker of the House. He was elected in 1893 and served from 1893 to 1895.
Notable achievements:
- He played a key role in the development of the House’s legislative agenda, particularly in the areas of tariffs and commerce
- He was also a strong advocate for the interests of the emerging industrial middle class
The Thirty-Fifth Speaker of the House
- Eliza Jane Shriver (1895