111th Congress, 2nd Session
Postmasters of the House
(1834 to 1993)
An elected officer for nearly 160 years (24th through the 102nd Congresses), the Postmaster managed mail operations in the House. Initially, workers in the Doorkeeper’s office were paid additional compensation to perform mail duties. A December 13, 1832, resolution made the Postmaster a distinct and permanent House employee. In 1834, William J. McCormick, a Doorkeeper’s employee, was named the first House Postmaster. Four years later, the House adopted a rule that charged the Postmaster with superintending the post office in the Capitol and overseeing the delivery of mail to Members and Officers. The House Reform Resolution of 1992 (H. Res. 423, April 9, 1992), abolished the Office of the Postmaster and reassigned mail handling procedures for the House of Representatives among other House Officers and private entities.
A total of 21 Postmasters
served in the House. One Postmaster served as a U.S. Representative (indicated
by an asterisk) after his service as a House officer. By clicking on the name,
viewers will be linked to the individual biography in the online Biographical
Directory of the United States Congress.
| Congress (Years) |
Postmasters, State or Territory 1 |
Date Elected2 |
|---|---|---|
| 23rd (1834-35) | William J. McCormick3 | - |
| 24th (1835-37) | William J. McCormick4 | - |
| 25th (1837-39) | William J. McCormick5 | - |
| 26th (1839-41) | William J. McCormick | Dec.
23, 1839 |
| 27th (1841-43) | William J. McCormick | June
9, 1841 |
| 28th (1843-45) | John M. Johnson, VA | Jan.
4, 1844 |
| 29th (1845-47) | John M. Johnson, VA | Dec.
3, 1845 |
| 30th (1847-49) | John M. Johnson, VA | Dec.
8, 1847 |
| 31st (1849-51) | John M. Johnson, VA | - |
| 32nd (1851-53) | John M. Johnson, VA | Dec.
1, 1851 |
| 33rd (1853-55) | John M. Johnson, VA | Dec.
5, 1853 |
| 34th (1855-57) | Robert Morris | Feb.
5, 1856 |
| 35th (1857-59) | Michael W. Cluskey | Dec.
7, 1857 |
| 36th (1859-61) | Josiah M. Lucas | Feb.
6, 1860 |
| 37th (1861-63) | William S. King, MN* | July
5, 1861 |
| 38th (1863-65) | William S. King, MN | Dec.
8, 1863 |
| 39th (1865-67) | Josiah Given, OH | Dec.
4, 1865 |
| 40th (1867-69) | William S. King, MN | March
5, 1867 |
| 41st (1869-71) | William S. King, MN | March
5, 1869 |
| 42nd (1871-73) | William S. King, MN | March
4, 1871 |
| 43rd (1873-75) | Henry Sherwood, MI | Dec.
1, 1873 |
| 44th (1875-77) | James M. Steuart, VA6 | Dec.
6, 1875 |
| 45th (1877-79) | James M. Steuart, VA | Oct.
15, 1877 |
| 46th (1879-81) | James M. Steuart, VA | March
18, 1879 |
| 47th (1881-83) | Henry Sherwood, MI | Dec.
5, 1881 |
| 48th (1883-85) | Lycurgus Dalton, IN | Dec.
4, 1883 |
| 49th (1885-87) | Lycurgus Dalton, IN | Dec.
7, 1885 |
| 50th (1887-89) | Lycurgus Dalton, IN | Dec.
5, 1887 |
| 51st (1889-91) | James L. Wheat, WI7 James W. Hathaway, MT |
Dec.
2, 1889 Dec. 15, 18908 |
| 52nd (1891-93) | James W. Hathaway, MT | Dec.
8, 1891 |
| 53rd (1893-95) | Lycurgus Dalton, IN | Aug.
7, 1893 |
| 54th (1895-97) | Joseph McElroy, OH9 | Dec.
2, 1895 |
| 55th (1897-99) | Joseph McElroy, OH | March
15, 1897 |
| 56th (1899-1901) | Joseph McElroy, OH | Dec.
4, 1899 |
| 57th (1901-03) | Joseph McElroy, OH | Dec.
2, 1901 |
| 58th (1903-05) | Joseph McElroy, OH | Nov.
9, 1903 |
| 59th (1905-07) | Joseph McElroy, OH | Dec.
4, 1905 |
| 60th (1907-09) < |