| Body | Wisconsin Legislature |
|---|---|
| Meeting place | Wisconsin State Capitol |
| Election | November 4, 1851 |
| Term start | January 5, 1852 |
| Term end | January 3, 1853 |
| Before | 4th |
| After | 6th |
| Chamber 1 | Senate |
| Membership 1 | 19 |
| Control 1 | Democratic |
| Senate President | Timothy Burns |
| President pro tempore | Eliab B. Dean Jr. |
| Chamber 2 | Assembly |
| Membership 2 | 66 |
| Control 2 | Whig |
| Assembly Speaker | James McMillan Shafter |
| Session1 start | January 14, 1852 |
| Session1 end | April 19, 1852 |
The Fifth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 14, 1852, to April 19, 1852, in regular session. Senators representing even-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first year of a two-year term. Assemblymembers were elected to a one-year term. Assemblymembers and even-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 4, 1851. Senators representing odd-numbered districts were serving the second year of their two-year term, having been elected in the general election held on November 5, 1850.[1]
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Whig Leonard J. Farwell, of Dane County, serving the first year of a two-year term, having won election in the 1851 Wisconsin gubernatorial election. He was Wisconsin's only Whig governor.
Major events
- January 5, 1852: Inauguration of Leonard J. Farwell as the 2nd Governor of Wisconsin.
- January 5, 1852: Inauguration of Timothy Burns as the 3rd Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin.
- January 30, 1852: Assemblymember Matthew Murphy of Lafayette County resigned his seat after it was demonstrated that he had actually lost his election to George W. Hammett.[2]
- November 2, 1852: Franklin Pierce elected President of the United States
Major legislation
- March 3, 1852: Act to incorporate Racine College, 1852 Act 65
- March 4, 1852: Act to incorporate the Milwaukee University, 1852 Act 79
- April 16, 1852: Act to set apart and incorporate the County of Kewaunee, 1852 Act 363
- April 17, 1852: Act to provide for the organization of a separate Supreme Court and for the election of Justices thereof, 1852 Act 395
- April 19, 1852: Act to authorize the business of Banking, 1852 Act 479
- April 19, 1852: Act to provide for the registration of Marriages, Births, and Deaths, 1852 Act 492
- April 19, 1852: Act to apportion and district anew the members of the Senate and Assembly of the State of Wisconsin, 1852 Act 499, increased the size of the Senate to 25 members, and the Assembly to 82.
- April 19, 1852: Act relating to Printing, 1852 Act 504
Party summary
Senate summary
| Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dem. | F.S. | Whig | Vacant | ||
| End of previous Legislature | 14 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 0 |
| 1st Session | 12 | 1 | 6 | 19 | 0 |
| Final voting share | 63.16% | 5.26% | 31.58% | ||
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 17 | 0 | 8 | 25 | 0 |
Assembly summary
| Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dem. | F.S. | Whig | Vacant | ||
| End of previous Legislature | 49 | 7 | 10 | 66 | 0 |
| Start of 1st Session | 29 | 6 | 31 | 66 | 0 |
| After January 30 | 28 | 6 | 32 | 66 | 0 |
| Final voting share | 42.42% | 9.09% | 48.48% | ||
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 55 | 7 | 20 | 82 | 0 |
Sessions
- 1st Regular session: January 14, 1852 – April 19, 1852
Leaders
Senate leadership
- President of the Senate: Samuel Beall, Lieutenant Governor
- President pro tempore: Eliab B. Dean Jr.
Assembly leadership
- Speaker of the Assembly: James McMillan Shafter
Members
Members of the Senate
Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the Fifth Wisconsin Legislature:
Members of the Assembly
Members of the Assembly for the Fifth Wisconsin Legislature:
Employees
Senate employees
- Chief Clerk: John K. Williams
- Sergeant-at-Arms: Patrick Cosgrove
Assembly employees
- Chief Clerk: Alexander T. Gray
- Sergeant-at-Arms: Elisha Starr
References
- ^ "Annals of the legislature". The Blue Book of the state of Wisconsin 1881. State of Wisconsin. pp. 183–184.
- ^ Journal of the Fifth Legislative Assembly of the State of Wisconsin. State of Wisconsin. 1852. pp. 137–138. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
- ^ "Whig Nominations". Wisconsin Express. October 16, 1851. p. 2. Retrieved August 24, 2021. – via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Official Returns of Dodge County". Daily Free Democrat. November 15, 1851. p. 3. Retrieved August 24, 2021. – via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Grant County Cannvass". The Weekly Wisconsin. November 19, 1851. p. 2. Retrieved August 24, 2021. – via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Jefferson County Right Side Up". Watertown Chronicle. November 12, 1851. p. 2. Retrieved August 24, 2021. – via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Lafayette County Majority Complete". Wisconsin Tribune. November 13, 1851. p. 2. Retrieved August 24, 2021. – via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Official Returns from Milwaukee Co.". Daily Free Democrat. November 14, 1851. p. 2. Retrieved August 18, 2021. – via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Official". Janesville Daily Gazette. November 13, 1851. p. 2. Retrieved August 24, 2021. – via Newspapers.com
- ^ "Walworth County–Official Canvass". The Weekly Wisconsin. November 26, 1851. p. 2. Retrieved August 24, 2021. – via Newspapers.com