David P. Buckson

David P. Buckson
Attorney General of Delaware
In office January 15, 1963 – January 19, 1971
Preceded by	Januar D. Bove, Jr.
Succeeded by	W. Laird Stabler, Jr.
Governor of Delaware
In office December 30, 1960 – January 17, 1961
Preceded by	J. Caleb Boggs
Succeeded by	Elbert N. Carvel
15th Lieutenant Governor of Delaware
In office January 15, 1957 – December 30, 1960
Preceded by	John W. Rollins
Succeeded by	Eugene Lammot
Personal details
Born	July 25, 1920 (1920-07-25) (age 91) Townsend, Delaware
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Betty Savin Patricia Maloney
Residence	Camden, Delaware
Alma mater	University of Delaware
Profession	lawyer
Religion	Methodist

David Penrose Buckson (born July 25, 1920) is an American lawyer and politician from Camden, in Kent County, Delaware. He is a veteran of World War II and a member of the Republican Party, who served as the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Delaware, the 68th Governor of Delaware and the 37th Attorney General of Delaware.

Early life and family

Buckson was born at Townsend, Delaware, son of Leon and Margaret Hutchison Buckson. He first married Betty Savin in 1945 with whom he had two children, Deborah Gray and Brian Roth. His second wife was Patricia Maloney, who he married in 1962, and with whom he had four children, Marlee, David, Eric and Kent. They were members of the Methodist Church. He graduated from the University of Delaware in 1941 with a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. During World War II Buckson served in the South Pacific and attained the rank of major. Afterwards he resumed studies for a legal career, attending Dickinson College Law School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Lieutenant Governor of Delaware

In 1955 Buckson was appointed a Judge in the Court of Common Pleas. A year later, in 1956, he was elected Lieutenant Governor, defeating Vernon Derrickson. He served one term from January 15, 1957 to December 30, 1960. At the end of his term, in 1960, he sought the Republican Party nomination for Governor, but lost it to John W. Rollins. However, he became Governor upon the resignation of Governor J. Caleb Boggs, who left to start his first U.S. Senate term, and served the remaining 18 days of Boggs' second term.

Professional and political career

In 1962, Buckson was elected Delaware State Attorney General and served two terms, from January 15, 1963 until January 19, 1971. He was a candidate for Governor again in 1964, when he lost to Democratic former Chief Justice Charles L. Terry, Jr., and finally in 1972, when he failed to receive the Republican nomination.

Buckson was later appointed by Governor Sherman W. Tribbitt to be a Judge in the Family Court of Delaware where he earned a reputation for dispatching justice in the most efficient, judicious, and evenhanded manner.

Buckson was the first Delaware attorney to have offices in more than one county. He is widely recognized to have been the founder of Dover Downs, a volunteer fireman, decorated veteran and officer of World War II and Commander of a National Guard unit. He has also been City Solicitor for the Delaware municipalities of Newark, Middletown, Townsend, Smyrna, Clayton, and Dover, all at the same time.

Almanac

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. The Lieutenant Governor and State Attorney General take office the third Tuesday of January and both have four year terms, filling the Governor office when it was vacated.

Delaware General Assembly (session while Governor)
Year	Assembly	Senate Majority	President pro tempore	House Majority	Speaker
1961	120th	Democratic	Allen J. Cook	Democratic	Sherman W. Tribbitt

Public Offices
Office	Type	Location	Began office	Ended office	notes
Lt. Governor	Executive	Dover	January 15, 1957	December 30, 1960	Delaware
Governor	Executive	Dover	December 30, 1960	January 17, 1961	Delaware
Attorney General	Executive	Dover	January 15, 1963	January 17, 1967	Delaware
Attorney General	Executive	Dover	January 17, 1967	January 19, 1971	Delaware

Election results
Year	Office	Election		Subject	Party	Votes	%		Opponent	Party	Votes	%
1956	Lt. Governor	General		David P. Buckson	Republican	92,254	52%		Vernon B. Derrickson	Democratic	81,121	48%
1962	Attorney General	General		David P. Buckson	Republican	77,666	51%		John Biggs, III	Democratic	75,064	49%
1964	Governor	General		David P. Buckson	Republican	97,374	49%		Charles L. Terry, Jr.	Democratic	102,797	51%
1966	Attorney General	General		David P. Buckson	Republican	96,595	59%		Sidney Balick	Democratic	66,848	41%
1972	Governor	Primary		David P. Buckson	Republican	20,138	46%		Russell W. Peterson	Republican	23,929	54%

References

• Cohen, Celia (2002). Only in Delaware, Politics and Politicians in the First State. Newark, Delaware: Grapevine Publishing. 
• Davis, Ned (2000). Charles L. Terry. Wilmington, Delaware: Delaware Heritage Press. OCLC 47186751. 
• Martin, Roger A. (1984). History of Delaware Through its Governors. Wilmington, Delaware: McClafferty Press. 

Images

• Hall of Governors Portrait Gallery; Portrait courtesy of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Dover.

External links

• Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States
• Delaware’s Governors
• The Political Graveyard

Places with more information

• Delaware Historical Society; website; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; [phone]
• University of Delaware; Library website; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; [phone]

Persondata
Name	Buckson, David P.
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	July 25, 1920
Place of birth	Townsend, Delaware
Date of death
Place of death