United States House of Representatives: History, Art, & Archives
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32nd Congress (1851–1853)

Congressional Profile

Total Membership:

  • 233 Representatives
  • 4 Delegates

Party Divisions:*

  • 127 Democrats
  • 85 Whigs
  • 10 Unionists
  • 4 Free Soilers
  • 3 Independent Democrats
  • 3 States Rights
  • 1 Independent Whig

*Party division totals are based on election day results.

Linn Boyd/tiles/non-collection/s/speaker_boyd_2005_16_20.xml Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives
About this object A nine term Representative from Kentucky, Linn Boyd served as Speaker of the House in the 32nd and 33rd Congresses.

Congress Overview

When Democrats retained control of the national legislature following the 1850 elections, the 32nd Congress (1851–1853) focused on linking East Coast to West through potential railroad routes to the Pacific Coast. Despite passage of the Compromise of 1850, the nation’s sectional crisis still simmered. The anti-slavery bestseller Uncle Tom’s Cabin made real the horrors of fugitive slave laws. Meanwhile, Southerners who feared the potential of a new free state obstructed the organization of the Nebraska Territory.

Member Information

  • Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, (1774–2005), Official Annotated Membership Roster by State with Vacancy and Special Election Information for the 32nd Congress [PDF]
  • Learn more about the House of Representatives with an interactive map

Learn more about the People of the People's House

Committee Information

Leadership & Officers

Speaker of the House:
Linn Boyd (D–Kentucky)
Democratic Caucus Chairman:
N/A (D) 1
Clerk of the House:
John W. Forney
Sergeant at Arms:
Adam J. Glossbrenner
Chaplain of the House:
James Gallagher – Presbyterian
Littleton F. Morgan – Methodist
Doorkeeper:
Z. W. McKnew
Postmaster:
John M. Johnson

To view complete lists of individuals who have served in these leadership and official positions since the 1st Congress, visit the People section

Legislative Activities

A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation
U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875 (LOC)

Session Dates

Saturday/Sunday Sessions

Joint Meetings, Joint Sessions, & Inaugurations

Related Historical Highlights

The Admission of California into the Union
The Admission of California into the Union
September 07, 1850
On this date, the bill admitting California as a free state into the Union passed the House by a vote of 150 to 56.

Footnotes

1No clear records remain for this Congress. Several Democratic Members offered the various organizing resolutions at the beginning of the Congress.

Office of the Historian: history@mail.house.gov
Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk: art@mail.house.gov, archives@mail.house.gov