The 10th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C., from March 4, 1807, to March 4, 1809, during the seventh and eighth years of Thomas Jefferson's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1800 census; both chambers had an overwhelming Democratic-Republican majority.
Major events
May 22, 1807: Former Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr was indicted for treason. He was acquitted September 1, 1807
June 1807: Chesapeake-Leopard Affair: The British warship HMS Leopard (1790) captured and boarded the USS Chesapeake (1799).
August 17, 1807: The Clermont, Robert Fulton's first American steamboat, left New York City for Albany, New York, on the Hudson River, inaugurating the first commercial steamboat service in the world.
January 1, 1808: The importation of slaves into the United States was banned
Major legislation
December 22, 1807: Embargo Act of 1807, ch. 5, 2 Stat. 451
March 1, 1809: Non-Intercourse Act (1809), ch. 24, 2 Stat. 528
Territories organized
February 3, 1809: Illinois Territory was organized from a portion of Indiana Territory, 2 Stat. 514
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
House of Representatives
Leadership
Senate
President: George Clinton (DR)
President pro tempore: Samuel Smith (DR), elected April 16, 1808
Stephen R. Bradley (DR), elected December 28, 1808
John Milledge (DR), elected January 30, 1809
House of Representatives
Speaker: Joseph Bradley Varnum (DR)
Members
This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed in order of seniority, and representatives are listed by district.
Skip to House of Representatives, below
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.
House of Representatives
The names of representatives are preceded by their district numbers.
Changes in membership
The count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this Congress.
Senate
There were 5 resignations, 2 deaths, and 1 interim appointment. Neither party had a net change.
House of Representatives
Of the voting members, there were 4 resignations, 4 deaths, and 2 vacancies from the beginning of this Congress. Democratic-Republicans had no net change and Federalists picked up 2 seats.
Committees
Lists of committees and their party leaders.
Senate
Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate (Chairman: John Quincy Adams)
Engrossed Bills (Chairman: Andrew Gregg then Francis Malbone)
Whole
House of Representatives
Accounts (Chairman: Nicholas R. Moore)
Affairs with Algiers (Select)
Claims (Chairman: David Holmes)
Commerce and Manufactures (Chairman: Thomas Newton Jr.)
Conduct of Peter J. Bruin (Select)
District of Columbia (Chairman: Joseph Lewis Jr.)
Elections (Chairman: William Findley)
Post Office and Post Roads (Chairman: John Rhea)
Public Lands (Chairman: John Boyle then Jeremiah Morrow)
Revisal and Unfinished Business (Chairman: John Clopton)
Rules (Select)
Standards of Official Conduct
Ways and Means (Chairman: George W. Campbell)
Whole
Joint committees
Enrolled Bills (Chairman: Sen. James Turner)
The Library (Chairman: N/A)