Wilbur L. Adams

Infobox Officeholder
honorific-prefix =
name = Wilbur L. Adams
honorific-suffix =


imagesize =
small

office = U.S. Representative from Delaware
term_start = March 4 1933
term_end = January 3 1935
predecessor = Robert G. Houston
successor = J. George Stewart
birth_date = birth date|1884|10|23|mf=y
birth_place = Georgetown, Delaware
death_date =death date and age|1937|12|4|1884|10|23
death_place = Lewes, Delaware
spouse =
party = Democratic
residence = Wilmington, Delaware
alma_mater = Dickinson College
occupation =
profession = lawyer
religion =

Wilbur Louis Adams (October 23 1884 – December 4 1937) was an American lawyer and politician from Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served as U.S. Representative from Delaware.

Early life and family

Adams was born October 23 1884 in Georgetown, Delaware, son of William and Sarah Adams. He attended Delaware College in Newark, Delaware, and Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. In 1907 he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law at Philadelphia, was admitted to the Delaware Bar, and began the practice of law in Wilmington, Delaware.

Political career

Adams was an unsuccessful candidate for election as state Attorney General in 1924. Unlike the rest of the nation, Delaware had no Democratic landslide in 1932, but the incumbent Republican U.S. Representative, Robert G. Houston was involved in an intra-party dispute over prohibition and failed to win the Republican nomination.

As a result, Adams was able to win a narrow victory, and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1932, defeating Republican Reuben Satterthwaite, Jr. During this term, he served with the Democratic majority in the 73rd Congress. In the U.S. House, Adams voted with the straight New Deal program. He served from March 4 1933 until January 3 1935, during the administration of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

In 1934, Adams decided not to seek reelection, but rather to challenge the popular incumbent U.S. Senator John G. Townsend, Jr. for his U.S. Senate seat. A thoughtful moderate Republican, Townsend had supported much of the New Deal legislation, and had demonstrated considerable effectiveness through his involvement in the establishment of such things as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. By contrast, Adams had a low profile in the House of Representatives and Townsend was able to raise questions about Adams' effectiveness for Delaware. Once again bucking national trends, Delaware had its own local Republican landslide in 1934, led by Townsend. Adams came home and moved to Georgetown, Delaware where he continued the practice of law. He was also the acting Postmaster at Georgetown, from May 6 1937, until his death.

Death and legacy

Adams died December 4 1937 in Lewes, Delaware, and is buried in the Union Cemetery, Georgetown, Delaware.

Public offices

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. U.S. Representatives took office March 4, and have two year terms. Since 1935, all Congressional terms began January 3.