The Twenty-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1839 to March 4, 1841, during the third and fourth years of Martin Van Buren's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the Fifth Census of the United States in 1830. Both chambers had a Democratic majority.
1839: The first state law permitting women to own property was passed in Jackson, MississippiJanuary 19, 1840: Captain Charles Wilkes circumnavigated Antarctica, claiming what becomes known as Wilkes Land for the United States.November 7, 1840: U.S. presidential election, 1840: William Henry Harrison defeated Martin Van BurenFebruary 18, 1841: The first ongoing filibuster in the United States Senate began and lasted until March 11[Data unknown/missing. You can help!]President: Richard M. Johnson (D)President pro tempore: William R. King (D)Speaker: Robert M.T. Hunter (D)This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed in order of seniority, and Representatives are listed by district.
Skip to House of Representatives, belowSenators were elected by the state legislatures every two years, with one-third beginning new six-year terms with each Congress. Preceding the names in the list below are Senate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their election. In this Congress, Class 1 meant their term began with this Congress, requiring reelection in 1844; Class 2 meant their term ended with this Congress, requiring reelection in 1840; and Class 3 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1842.
The names of members of the House of Representatives are preceded by their district numbers.
The count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this Congress.
Replacements: 8Democrats: 0-seat net lossWhigs: 0-seat net gainDeaths: 3Resignations: 7Interim appointments: 0Total seats with changes: 11Replacements: 15Democrats: 2-seat net lossWhigs: 3-seat net gainAnti-Masonic: 1-seat net lossDeaths: 6Resignations: 10Contested election: 0Total seats with changes: 17Lists of committees and their party leaders.
AgricultureAudit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the SenateBank Note CirculationBankruptcy (Select)ClaimsCommerceDebts of the States (Select)Distributing Public Revenue Among the States (Select)District of ColumbiaFinanceFishing Bounties and Allowances (Select)Florida and Its Admission to the Union (Select)Foreign RelationsIndian AffairsJudiciaryManufacturesMileage of Members of Congress (Select)Military AffairsMilitiaNaval AffairsPatents and the Patent OfficePensionsPost Office and Post RoadsPrivate Land ClaimsPublic Buildings and GroundsPublic LandsRevolutionary ClaimsRoads and CanalsTariff Regulation (Select)Washington City Charter (Select)WholeAccountsAgricultureClaimsCommerceDistrict of ColumbiaElectionsExpenditures in the Navy DepartmentExpenditures in the Post Office DepartmentExpenditures in the State DepartmentExpenditures in the Treasury DepartmentExpenditures in the War DepartmentExpenditures on Public BuildingsForeign AffairsIndian AffairsInvalid PensionsManufacturesMileageMilitary AffairsMilitiaNaval AffairsPatentsPost Office and Post RoadsPublic Buildings and GroundsPublic ExpendituresPublic LandsRevisal and Unfinished BusinessRevolutionary ClaimsRoads and CanalsRules (Select)Standards of Official ConductTerritoriesWays and MeansWholeEnrolled BillsLibrarian of Congress: John Silva MeehanChaplain: George G. Cookman (Methodist)Secretary: Asbury DickensSergeant at Arms: Stephen HaightChaplain:Joshua Bates (Congregationalist), elected February 4, 1840Thomas W. Braxton (Baptist), elected December 7, 1840Clerk: Hugh A. GarlandDoorkeeper: Joseph FollansbeePostmaster: William J. McCormickSergeant at Arms: Roderick Dorsey 
