Delegates to the Constitutional Convention

State: Delaware (Born in Cecil County, Maryland)

Age at Convention: 42

Date of Birth: 04/02/1745

Date of Death: 08/15/1815

Schooling: Richard Bassett had no official college experience 

Occupation: Lawyer, Judge, Politician 

Prior Political Experience: Delaware Council of Safety 1776-1777, Governor’s Council, Delaware Constitutional Convention 1776, Delaware State Senate 1782, Delaware House of Representatives 1786, Annapolis convention 1786

Committee Assignments: None

Convention Contributions: Basset attended the Convention diligently, but had no major contributions, only voting when necessary and giving no speeches or serving on any committee. William Pierce described him as “a Man of plain sense, and has modesty enough to hold his Tongue.” 
New Government Participation: Basset served in the U.S. Senate from 1789-1793, as Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas (1793-1799), then as the fourth Governor of Delaware (1799-1801). He then briefly served as a midnight appointment to the U.S. Circuit Court from 1801 to 1802 where he was removed by the Jefferson Administration.