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House History

Sergeants at Arms of the House

(1789 to Present)

An officer of the House whose history extends back to the First Congress, the Sergeant at Arms is the chamber’s principal law enforcement official, charged with maintaining security on the floor and for the House side of the Capitol complex. The modern Sergeant at Arms serves on the Capitol Police Board and the Capitol Guide Board along with the Senate Sergeant at Arms and the Architect of the Capitol. A total of 35 individuals have served as the House Sergeant at Arms since 1789.

Mandated under the current House Rule II, the Sergeant at Arms also enforces protocol and ensures decorum during floor proceedings. The Mace, which symbolizes the authority of the House, is maintained by the Office of the Sergeant at Arms. On occasion, the Sergeant at Arms has presented the Mace to restore order on the floor. The Sergeant at Arms also is empowered to compel absent Members onto the House floor to conduct business. Over time, the office’s duties have encompassed administrative functions: arranging Capitol funerals, managing parking facilities, and issuing identification to Members and staff.

Eight Sergeants at Arms also served as U.S. Representatives (indicated by asterisks) either prior to or after their service as a House officer. By clicking on their names, viewers will be linked to their individual biographies in the online Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.


Congress (Years)
Sergeant at Arms, State or Territory
Date Elected
1st (1789-91) Joseph Wheaton, RI
May 12, 1789
2nd (1791-93) Joseph Wheaton, RI
Oct. 24, 1791
3rd (1793-95) Joseph Wheaton, RI
Dec. 2, 1793
4th (1795-97) Joseph Wheaton, RI
Dec. 7, 1795
5th (1797-99) Joseph Wheaton, RI
May 15, 1797
6th (1799-1801) Joseph Wheaton, RI
Dec. 2, 1799
7th (1801-03) Joseph Wheaton, RI
Dec. 7, 1801
8th (1803-05) Joseph Wheaton, RI
Oct. 17, 1803
9th (1805-07) Joseph Wheaton, RI
Dec. 2, 1805
10th (1807-09) Thomas Dunn, MD
Oct. 27, 1807
11th (1809-11) Thomas Dunn, MD
May 22, 1809
12th (1811-13) Thomas Dunn, MD
Nov. 4, 1811
13th (1813-15) Thomas Dunn, MD
May 24, 1813
14th (1815-17) Thomas Dunn, MD
Dec. 4, 1815
15th (1817-19) Thomas Dunn, MD
Dec. 1, 1817
16th (1819-21) Thomas Dunn, MD
Dec. 6, 1819
17th (1821-23) Thomas Dunn, MD
Dec. 4, 1821
18th (1823-25) Thomas Dunn, MD
John O. Dunn, DC1
Dec. 1, 1823;
Dec. 6, 1824
19th (1825-27) John O. Dunn, DC
Dec. 5, 1825
20th (1827-29) John O. Dunn, DC
Dec. 3, 1827
21st (1829-31) John O. Dunn, DC
Dec. 7, 1829
22nd (1831-33) John O. Dunn, DC
Dec. 7, 1831
23rd (1833-35) Thomas B. Randolph, VA
Dec. 3, 1833
24th (1835-37) Roderick Dorsey , MD
Dec. 15, 1835
25th (1837-39) Roderick Dorsey , MD
Sept. 4, 1837
26th (1839-41) Roderick Dorsey , MD
Dec. 21, 1839
27th (1841-43) Eleazor M. Townsend, CT
Jun. 8, 1841
28th (1843-45) Newton Lane, KY
Dec. 7, 1843
29th (1845-47) Newton Lane, KY
Dec. 3, 1845
30th (1847-49) Nathan Sergeant, VT
Dec. 8, 1847
31st (1849-51) Adam J. Glossbrenner, PA*
Jan. 15, 1850
32nd (1851-53) Adam J. Glossbrenner, PA
Dec. 1, 1851
33rd (1853-55) Adam J. Glossbrenner, PA
Dec. 5, 1853
34th (1855-57) Adam J. Glossbrenner, PA
Feb. 4, 1856
35th (1857-59) Adam J. Glossbrenner, PA
Dec. 7, 1857
36th (1859-61) Henry W. Hoffman, MD*
Feb. 3, 1860
37th (1861-63) Edward Ball, OH*
July 5, 1861
38th (1863-65) Nehemiah G. Ordway, NH
Dec. 8, 1863
39th (1865-67) Nehemiah G. Ordway, NH
Dec. 4, 1865
40th (1867-69) Nehemiah G. Ordway, NH
March 5, 1867