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 |