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List of youngest members of the United States Congress

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Title: List of youngest members of the United States Congress  
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List of youngest members of the United States Congress

Left: Patrick Murphy (D-FL), currently the youngest U.S. representative; right: Chris Murphy (D-CT), the youngest senator.

The following are historical lists of the youngest members of the United States Congress, in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. These members would be the equivalent to the "Baby of the House" in the parliaments of Commonwealth countries; the U.S. Congress does not confer a similar title upon its youngest members.

Members of the U.S. Congress tend to be older than parliamentarians elsewhere in the English-speaking world. This is likely a result of two factors. One is the minimum ages written into Article One of the United States Constitution, which bar persons under the age of 25 from serving in the House and persons under the age of 30 from serving in the Senate. The other is that, in the political culture of the United States, the U.S. House of Representatives is not an entry-level political position; most Members of Congress have experience in state and local politics prior to their election to the federal Congress in Washington, D.C. Furthermore, US culture often requires that politicians first gain experience in the private sector before running for office.

In the 113th Congress, which began on January 3, 2013, the youngest member of the United States House of Representatives is Patrick Murphy (D-Florida 18) who was born on (1983-03-30) March 30, 1983 and was elected in 2012. He replaces Aaron Schock (R-Illinois 18), who was the youngest member of the 111th and 112th Congresses, and now the second-youngest member of the 113th. Elise Stefanik (R-New York 21), born on July 2, 1984, will be the youngest member of the 114th Congress, and at age 30 the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.

The youngest U.S. senator is 41-year-old Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut), who was elected in 2012. He replaces Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) who was appointed in December 2012, just a week before Murphy took office, and is now the second-youngest senator. Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), at age 37, will be the youngest member of the Senate in the 114th Congress.

The average age of Senators is now higher than in the past. In the 19th century, several state legislatures elected Senators in their late twenties in violation of the Constitutional minimum age of 30; Henry Clay, elected at age 29 in 1806, is the most notable example.

List of youngest members of the United States Senate

Time as youngest member[1] Name State Party Age
March 4, 1789 – July 25, 1789 James Gunn Georgia Anti-Administration 35-36
July 25, 1789 – December 6, 1790 Rufus King New York Pro-Administration 34-35
December 6, 1790 – March 4, 1791 James Monroe Virginia Anti-Administration 32
March 4, 1791 – December 2, 1793 John Rutherfurd New Jersey Pro-Administration 30-33
December 2, 1793 – February 28, 1794 Albert Gallatin[2] New Jersey Anti-Administration 32-33
February 28, 1794 – April 24, 1794 John Rutherfurd New Jersey Pro-Administration 33
April 24, 1794 – December 6, 1796 James Ross Pennsylvania Federalist 31-34
April 12, 1796 – December 6, 1796[3] Josiah Tattnall, Sr. Georgia Democratic-Republican 34 (est)
December 6, 1796 – November 22, 1797 Richard Stockton New Jersey Federalist 32-33
November 22, 1797 – April, 1798 Andrew Jackson Tennessee Democratic-Republican 30-31
April, 1798 – February 4, 1799 Ray Greene Rhode Island Federalist 33-34
February 4, 1799 – March 3, 1801 William H. Wells Delaware Federalist 30-32
March 4, 1801 – October 17, 1803 Samuel White Delaware Federalist 30-32
October 17, 1803 – December 29, 1806 Thomas Worthington Ohio Democratic-Republican 30-33
December 29, 1806 – March 4, 1807 Henry Clay[4] Kentucky Democratic-Republican 29
March 4, 1807 – September 1807 James Fenner Rhode Island Democratic-Republican 34
September 1807 – December 9, 1807[5] John Pope Kentucky Democratic-Republican 36/37 (est)
September 1807 – December 9, 1807 Samuel White Delaware Federalist 36/37 (est)
December 9, 1807 – January 12, 1810 William Harris Crawford Ohio Democratic-Republican 35-37
May 26, 1809 – January 12, 1810[6] Jenkin Whiteside Tennessee Democratic-Republican 37-38 (est)
January 12, 1810 – March 3, 1813 Alexander Campbell Ohio Democratic-Republican 30-34 (est)
March 4, 1813 – May 27, 1813 Outerbridge Horsey Delaware Federalist 35-36
May 24, 1813 – May 27, 1813[7] William Bellinger Bulloch Georgia Democratic-Republican 36 (est)
May 27, 1813 – December 6, 1813 Robert Henry Goldsborough Maryland Federalist 34
December 6, 1813 – April 9, 1814 William Wyatt Bibb[8][9] Georgia Democratic-Republican 32
April 9, 1814 – February 2, 1815 Jesse Wharton[9] Tennessee Democratic-Republican 31-32
February 2, 1815 – January 22, 1816 William Taylor Barry[9] Kentucky Democratic-Republican 30-31
January 22, 1816 – March 3, 1817 Armistead Thomson Mason[10] Virginia Democratic-Republican 28-29
March 4, 1817 – November 16, 1818 John Jordan Crittenden Kentucky Democratic-Republican 29-31
November 16, 1818 – March 3, 1821 John Henry Eaton[11] Tennessee Democratic-Republican 28-30
March 4, 1821 – December 3, 1821 Samuel Lewis Southard New Jersey Democratic-Republican 33-34
December 3, 1821 – March 3, 1823 John Henry Eaton Tennessee Democratic-Republican 31-32
March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 Robert Young Hayne South Carolina Jacksonian Republican 31-33
March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1829 Elias Kent Kane Illinois Jacksonian 30-34
March 4, 1829 – December 16, 1833 John Middleton Clayton Delaware Anti-Jacksonian 32-37
December 16, 1833 – December 31, 1833 Lewis Fields Linn Missouri Jacksonian 37
December 31, 1833 – March 3, 1835 John Pendleton King Georgia Jacksonian 34-35
March 4, 1835 – December 5, 1836 Robert John Walker Mississippi Jacksonian 34-35
December 5, 1836 – February 2, 1837 Ambrose H. Sevier[9] Arkansas Jacksonian 35
February 2, 1837 – March 3, 1837 Alexander Mouton Louisiana Jacksonian 32
March 4, 1837 – January 11, 1841 Franklin Pierce New Hampshire Democratic 32-36
January 11, 1841 – February 7, 1842 Alfred O.P. Nicholson Tennessee Democratic 32-33
February 7, 1842 – February 28, 1842 Franklin Pierce New Hampshire Democratic 37
February 28, 1842 – March 1, 1842 Alexander Mouton Louisiana Democratic 37
March 1, 1842 – April 14, 1842 William Alexander Graham North Carolina Whig 37
April 14, 1842 – July 6, 1842 Charles Magill Conrad Louisiana Whig 37
July 6, 1842 – March 3, 1843 William L. Dayton New Jersey Whig 35-36
March 4, 1843 – December 4, 1843 Edward A. Hannegan Indiana Democratic 35-36
December 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845 David Rice Atchison Missouri Democratic 36-37
March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847 Jesse D. Bright Indiana Democratic 32-34
March 4, 1847 – June 26, 1848 Stephen A. Douglas Illinois Democratic 33-35
June 26, 1848 – December 14, 1853 Isaac Pigeon Walker Wisconsin Democratic 32-38
December 14, 1853 – March 3, 1855 Clement Claiborne Clay, Jr. Alabama Democratic 37-38
March 3, 1855 – March 5, 1860 George Ellis Pugh Ohio Democratic 32-37
March 5, 1860 – January 22, 1863 Milton Slocum Latham[9] California Democratic 32-35
January 22, 1863 – March 3, 1863 David Turpie Indiana Democratic 34
March 4, 1863 – June 23, 1868 William Sprague IV Rhode Island Republican 32-37
June 23, 1868 – June 30, 1868 Alexander McDonald Arkansas Republican 36
June 30, 1868 – July 25, 1868 Thomas Ward Osborn Florida Republican 35
July 25, 1868 – March 3, 1873 George Eliphaz Spencer Alabama Republican 31-36
March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1879 Stephen Wallace Dorsey Arkansas Republican 31-37
March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881 Blanche Kelso Bruce[12] Mississippi Republican 38-40
March 4, 1881 – October 11, 1881 Arthur Pue Gorman Maryland Democratic 41-42
October 11, 1881 – March 3, 1883 Nelson W. Aldrich Rhode Island Republican 39-41
March 4, 1883 – December 2, 1889 John E. Kenna[9] West Virginia Democratic 34-41
December 2, 1889 – March 3, 1891 Richard F. Pettigrew South Dakota Republican 41-42
March 4, 1891 – January 24, 1895 John L.M. Irby South Carolina Democratic 36-40
January 24, 1895 – March 3, 1895 Jeter C. Pritchard North Carolina Republican 37
March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1901 Marion Butler North Carolina Populist 31-37
March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1905[13] Joseph Weldon Bailey[9] Texas Democratic 38-42
January 23, 1901 – March 4, 1905 Thomas Kearns Utah Republican 39-43
Albert J. Beveridge Indiana Republican 38-42
March 4, 1905 – January 30, 1907 Elmer J. Burkett Nebraska Republican 37-39
January 30, 1907 – March 3, 1907 Frederick W. Mulkey Oregon Republican 33
March 4, 1907 – December 16, 1907 Simon Guggenheim Colorado Republican 39
December 16, 1907 – January 9, 1908 Thomas P. Gore Oklahoma Democratic 37
January 9, 1908 – March 22, 1908 William James Bryan[14] Florida Democratic 31
March 22, 1908 – January 9, 1911 Thomas P. Gore Oklahoma Democratic 37-40
January 9, 1911 – January 31, 1911 Davis Elkins West Virginia Republican 34-35
January 31, 1911 – March 3, 1911 Thomas P. Gore Oklahoma Democratic 40
March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1917 Luke Lea Tennessee Democratic 31-37
March 4, 1917 – July 8, 1918 Peter Goelet Gerry Rhode Island Democratic 37-38
July 8, 1918 – November 5, 1918 Christie Benet South Carolina Democratic 38
November 5, 1918 – March 3, 1919 Peter Goelet Gerry Rhode Island Democratic 39
March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1923 Pat Harrison Mississippi Democratic 37-41
March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1925 Clarence Cleveland Dill Washington Democratic 38-40
March 4, 1925 – December 7, 1925 Sam G. Bratton New Mexico Democratic 36-37
December 7, 1925 – January 12, 1933 Robert M. La Follette, Jr. Wisconsin Republican 30-37
January 12, 1933 – June 21, 1935 Richard B. Russell, Jr. Georgia Democratic 35-37
June 21, 1935 – October 17, 1940 Rush Dew Holt, Sr.[15] West Virginia Democratic 30-35
October 17, 1940 – December 12, 1940 Joseph H. Ball Minnesota Republican 34-35
December 12, 1940 – December 6, 1942 Berkeley L. Bunker Nevada Democratic 34-36
December 6, 1942 – January 3, 1943 Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. Massachusetts Republican 40
January 3, 1943 – November 14, 1944 Joseph H. Ball Minnesota Republican 37-39
November 14, 1944 – January 3, 1945 William E. Jenner Indiana Republican 36
January 3, 1945 – January 18, 1945 Joseph H. Ball Minnesota Republican 39
January 18, 1945 – August 26, 1945 Hugh B. Mitchell Washington Democratic 37-38
August 26, 1945 – January 3, 1947 William Knowland California Republican 37-38
January 3, 1947 – December 31, 1948 Joseph McCarthy Wisconsin Republican 38-40
December 31, 1948 – January 3, 1957 Russell Long[16] Louisiana Democratic 30-38
January 3, 1957 – June 15, 1961 Frank Church Idaho Democratic 32-36
June 15, 1961 – January 10, 1962 John Tower Texas Republican 35-36
January 10, 1962 – November 6, 1962 Maurice J. Murphy, Jr. New Hampshire Republican 34-35
November 7, 1962 – January 3, 1969 Ted Kennedy Massachusetts Democratic 30-36
January 3, 1969 – January 2, 1971 Bob Packwood[17] Oregon Republican 36-38
January 2, 1971 – January 3, 1973 John V. Tunney[17] California Democratic 36-38
January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1979 Joe Biden[17][18] Delaware Democratic 30-36
January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1981 Bill Bradley[17] New Jersey Democratic 35-37
January 3, 1981 – March 11, 1987 Don Nickles[17][19] Oklahoma Republican 32-38
March 11, 1987 – November 8, 1988 David Kemp Karnes[17] Nebraska Republican 38-39
November 8, 1988 – January 3, 1993 Don Nickles[17] Oklahoma Republican 39-44
January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1995 Russ Feingold[17] Wisconsin Democratic 39-41
January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1999 Rick Santorum[17] Pennsylvania Republican 36-40
January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2003 Peter Fitzgerald[17] Illinois Republican 38-42
January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2009 John E. Sununu[17] New Hampshire Republican 38-44
January 3, 2009 – January 22, 2009 Mark Pryor[17][20][21] Arkansas Democratic 45-46
January 22, 2009 – January 27, 2009 Michael Bennet[17][20] Colorado Democratic 44
January 27, 2009 – September 10, 2009 Kirsten Gillibrand[17][20][22] New York Democratic 42
September 10, 2009 – July 20, 2010 [17] Florida Republican 40-41
July 20, 2010 – November 15, 2010 Carte Goodwin[17] West Virginia Democratic 36
November 15, 2010 – January 3, 2011 [17] Florida Republican 41
January 3, 2011 – December 26, 2012 Mike Lee[17][20] Utah Republican 39-41
December 26, 2012 – January 3, 2013 Brian Schatz[17][20] Hawaii Democratic 40
January 3, 2013 – present Chris Murphy[17][20] Connecticut Democratic 39-41

Sources: Congressional Biographical Directory and House Document No. 108-222, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress 1774 – 2005

List of youngest members of the United States House of Representatives

Time as youngest member[23] Congress(es) Name State-District Party Age[24]
March 4, 1789 – April 19, 1790 1st Richard Bland Lee Virginia-4 Pro-Administration 28-29
April 19, 1790 – March 3, 1793 1st-2nd John Steele North Carolina-4
North Carolina-1[25] 		Pro-Administration 25-28
March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1795 3rd Francis Preston Virginia-4 Anti-Administration 27-29
March 4, 1795 – May 5, 1796 4th Nathaniel Freeman, Jr. Massachusetts-5 Federalist 28-30
May 5, 1796 – March 3, 1797 4th Richard Sprigg, Jr. Maryland-2 Democratic-Republican 27-28 (est)
March 4, 1797 – November 23, 1797 5th John Dennis Maryland-8 Federalist 25
November 23, 1797 – March 3, 1801 5th-6th William C. C. Claiborne[26] Tennessee's At-large Democratic-Republican 22-26 (est)
March 4, 1801 – December 6, 1802 7th John Stanly North Carolina-10 Federalist 26-28
December 6, 1802 – March 3, 1803 7th Samuel Thatcher Massachusetts-12 Federalist 26
March 4, 1803 – December 1, 1806[27] 8th-9th John G. Jackson Virginia-1 Democratic-Republican 25-29
March 4, 1805 – December 1, 1806[27] 9th John Claiborne Virginia-17 Democratic-Republican 28-29 (est)
December 12, 1805 – December 1, 1806[27] 9th Benjamin Parke Indiana Territory-At Large[28] Federalist 28-29
December 1, 1806 – January 26, 1807 9th William A. Burwell Virginia-13 Democratic-Republican 26
January 26, 1807 – March 3, 1807 9th William Wyatt Bibb[8][29] Democratic-Republican 25
March 4, 1807 – March 3, 1809 10th Jesse Wharton[29][30] Tennessee-3 Democratic-Republican 24-26
March 4, 1809 – November 27, 1809 11th William Wyatt Bibb[8][29] Democratic-Republican 27-28
November 27, 1809 – March 3, 1811[31] 11th Jonathan Jennings Indiana Territory-At Large[28] Democratic-Republican 25-27 (est)
December 13, 1810 – March 3, 1811[31] 11th William T. Barry[29] Kentucky-5 Democratic-Republican 26-27
March 4, 1811 – November 4, 1811 12th William Rufus deVane King[32] North Carolina-5 Democratic-Republican 24-25
November 4, 1811 – March 3, 1815 12th-13th Stevenson Archer Maryland-6 Democratic-Republican 25-28
March 4, 1815 – December 17, 1816 14th Richard Henry Wilde Democratic-Republican 25-27
December 17, 1816 – March 3, 1817 14th John Tyler Virginia-23 Democratic-Republican 26
March 4, 1817 – December 4, 1818 15th George Robertson Kentucky-7 Democratic-Republican 26-28
December 4, 1818 – March 3, 1819 15th John McLean Illinois's At-large Democratic-Republican 27-28
March 4, 1819 – March 3, 1823[33] 16th-17th Daniel Pope Cook Illinois's At-large Democratic-Republican 25-29 (est)
December 4, 1822 – March 3, 1823[33] 17th Andrew R. Govan South Carolina-4 Democratic-Republican 28-29
March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 18th Thomas Patrick Moore Kentucky-7 Jacksonian Republican 26-28 (est)
March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1827 19th John Heritage Bryan North Carolina-4 Jacksonian 26-28
March 4, 1827 – February 13, 1828 20th William Thompson Nuckolls South Carolina-7 Jacksonian 26
February 13, 1828 – March 3, 1829 20th Ambrose Hundley Sevier[29] Arkansas Territory-At Large[34] Jacksonian 26-27
March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1831[35] 21st Dixon Hall Lewis Alabama-3 Jacksonian 26-28
Spencer Darwin Pettis Missouri's At-large Jacksonian 27-29 (est)
March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1833 22nd Albert Gallatin Hawes Kentucky-11 Jacksonian 26-28
March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1835 23rd David W. Dickinson[36] Tennessee-8 Jacksonian 24-26
March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1837 24th John F.H. Claiborne Mississippi's At-large Jacksonian 25-27
March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839 25th Joseph Lanier Williams Tennessee-3 Whig 26-28
March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1841 26th Albert Gallatin Brown Mississippi's At-large Democratic 25-27
March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843 27th John Thomson Mason, Jr. Maryland-6 Democratic 25-27
March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845 28th Alexander Ramsey Pennsylvania-14 Whig 27-29
March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847 29th Lucien Bonaparte Chase Tennessee-9 Democratic 27-29
March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849 30th Richard Spaight Donnell North Carolina-8 Whig 26-28
March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851 31st James Lawrence Orr South Carolina-2 Democratic 26-28
March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853 32nd William Montgomery Churchwell Tennessee-3 Democratic 25-27
March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855 33rd Milton Slocum Latham[29] California's At-large Democratic 25-27
March 4, 1855 – July 23, 1856 34th William Cumback Indiana-4 Opposition 25-27
July 23, 1856 – March 3, 1857 34th Miguel Antonio Otero[37] New Mexico Territory-At Large[38] Democratic 27
March 4, 1857 – December 3, 1860 35th-36th Albert Gallatin Jenkins[39] Virginia-11 Democratic 26-30
December 3, 1860 – March 3, 1861 36th John Young Brown[39] Kentucky-5 Democratic 25
March 4, 1861 – January 13, 1862 37th Edward McPherson Pennsylvania-17 Republican 30-31
January 13, 1862 – March 3, 1863 37th Andrew Jackson Clements Tennessee-4 Unionist 29-30
March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865 38th John Rogers McBride Oregon's At-large Republican 30-32
March 3, 1865 – March 3, 1867 39th Thomas Estes Noell[40] Missouri-3 Republican 25-27
March 4, 1867 – October 3, 1867 40th Thomas Estes Noell[41] Missouri-3 Democratic 27-28
October 3, 1867 – June 24, 1868 40th Charles Haight New Jersey-2 Democratic 29-30
June 24, 1868 – March 3, 1869 40th Logan Holt Roots Arkansas-1 Republican 27
March 4, 1869 – March 31, 1870 41st Clinton Levering Cobb North Carolina-1 Republican 26-27
March 31, 1870 – March 3, 1871 41st John Coggswell Conner Texas-2 Democratic 27-28
March 4, 1871 – January 29, 1873 42nd Josiah Thomas Walls[42] Florida's At-large Republican 28-30
January 29, 1873 – March 3, 1873 42nd John Coggswell Conner Texas-2 Democratic 30
March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 43rd John Ambler Smith Virginia-3 Republican 25-27
March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877 44th John Daugherty White Kentucky-9 Republican 26-28
March 4, 1877 – February 20, 1878 45th John Edward Kenna[29] West Virginia-3 Democratic 28-29
February 20, 1878 – March 3, 1879 45th Joseph Hayes Acklen Louisiana-3 Democratic 27-28
March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881 46th Richard Graham Frost Missouri-3 Democratic 27-29
March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1883 47th Philip Henry Dugro New York-7 Democratic 25-27
March 4, 1883 – December 1, 1884 48th George Adams Post Pennsylvania-15 Democratic 28-30
December 1, 1884 – March 3, 1885 48th Benjamin Franklin Shively[43] Indiana-13 Anti-Monopolist/Greenbacker 27
March 4, 1885 – February 2, 1887 49th Robert Marion La Follette, Sr. Wisconsin-3 Republican 29-31
February 2, 1887 – March 3, 1887 49th Hugh Hiram Price Wisconsin-8 Republican 27
March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889 50th Benjamin Franklin Shively[43] Indiana-13 Democratic 29-31
March 4 – December 9, 1889 51st Thomas Francis Magner New York-5 Democratic 28-29
December 9, 1889 – March 3, 1891 51st Charles Henry Turner New York-6 Democratic 28-29
March 4, 1891 – May 5, 1892 52nd Joseph Weldon Bailey[29] Texas-5 Democratic 28-29
May 5, 1892 – March 3, 1893 52nd Joseph Morgan Kendall Kentucky-10 Democratic 28-29
March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895 53rd Thomas Settle, III North Carolina-5 Republican 27-29
March 4, 1895 – December 19, 1896 54th Norman Adolphus Mozley Missouri-14 Republican 29-31
December 19, 1896 – March 3, 1897 54th Charles Robert Crisp Georgia-3 Democratic 26
March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899 55th Thomas Joseph Bradley New York-9 Democratic 27-29
March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1901 56th John Joseph Fitzgerald New York-2 Democratic 26-28
March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1903 57th John Joseph Feely Illinois-2 Democratic 25-27
March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1905 58th Burton Lee French Idaho's At-large Republican 27-29
March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1907 59th Anthony Michalek Illinois-5 Republican 27-29
March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1909 60th Harry Benjamin Wolf Maryland-3 Democratic 26-28
March 4, 1909 – November 23, 1909 61st Charles Gordon Edwards Georgia-1 Democratic 30-31
November 23, 1909 – March 3, 1911 61st Manuel Luis Quezon Philippines Territory-At large[44] Nacionalista 31-32
March 4 – June 2, 1911 62nd James Francis Byrnes South Carolina-2 Democratic 28-29
June 2, 1911 – March 3, 1913 62nd William Stuart Reyburn Pennsylvania-2 Republican 28-30
March 4, 1913 – December 7, 1914 63rd M. Clyde Kelly Pennsylvania-30 Republican 29-31
December 7, 1914 – March 3, 1915 63rd Carl Vinson Georgia-10 Democratic 31
March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1917 64th Thomas Woodnutt Miller Delaware's At-large Republican 28-30
March 4, 1917 – August 10, 1917 65th J. Marvin Jones Texas-13 Democratic 31
August 10, 1917 – August 19, 1919 65th-66th John Miller Baer[45] North Dakota-1 Republican 31-33
August 19, 1919 – December 6, 1920 66th King Swope Kentucky-8 Republican 26-27
December 6, 1920 – March 3, 1921 66th Clarence John McLeod Michigan-13 Republican 25
March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1923 67th Thomas Jefferson Ryan New York-15 Republican 30-32
March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1925 68th Clarence John McLeod Michigan-13 Republican 27-29
March 4, 1925 – March 3, 1927 69th Samuel James Montgomery Oklahoma-1 Republican 28-30
March 4, 1927 – March 3, 1929 70th George Hamilton Combs, Jr. Missouri-5 Democratic 27-29
March 4, 1929 – March 7, 1932 71st-72nd Fred Allan Hartley, Jr. New Jersey-8 Republican 27-30
March 7, 1932 – March 3, 1933 72nd W. Carlton Mobley Georgia-6 Democratic 25-26
March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935 73rd Joseph Patrick Monaghan Montana-1 Democratic 26-28
January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1937 74th Elmer James Ryan Minnesota-2 Democratic 27-29
January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1939 75th Jerry Joseph O'Connell Montana-1 Democratic 27-29
January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1941 76th Lindley Garrison Beckworth, Sr. Texas-3 Democratic 25-27
January 3, 1941 – January 3, 1943 77th William Grant Stratton Illinois's At-large Republican 26-28
January 3, 1943 – 21, 1943 78th Lindley Garrison Beckworth, Sr. Texas-3 Democratic 29
January 21, 1943 – January 3, 1947 78th-79th Marion Tinsley Bennett Missouri-6 Republican 28-32
January 3, 1947 – December 31, 1948 80th George William Sarbacher, Jr. Pennsylvania-5 Republican 28-32
December 31, 1948 – January 3, 1949 80th Lloyd Bentsen[46] Texas-15 Democratic 27
January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1951 81st Hugo Sheridan Sims, Jr. South Carolina-2 Democratic 27-29
January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1953 82nd Patrick Jerome Hillings California-12 Republican 27-29
January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1955 83rd William Creed Wampler, Sr. Virginia-9 Republican 26-28
January 3, 1955 – December 13, 1955 84th Kenneth James Gray Illinois-25 Democratic 30-31
December 13, 1955 – January 3, 1959 84th-85th John David Dingell, Jr.[17][47][48] Michigan-15 Democratic 29-32
January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1961 86th Dan Rostenkowski Illinois-8 Democratic 31-33
January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1963 87th Ralph R. Harding Idaho-2 Democratic 31-33
January 3, 1963 – May 12, 1964 88th Edgar Franklin Foreman[17] Texas-16 Republican 29-30
May 12, 1964 – January 3, 1965 88th William J. Green, III[17] Pennsylvania-5 Democratic 25-26
January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1967 89th Jed Joseph Johnson, Jr. Oklahoma-6 Democratic 25-27
January 3, 1967 – April 3, 1969 90th-91st William J. Green, III[17] Pennsylvania-5 Democratic 28-30
April 3, 1969 – November 16, 1970 91st David R. Obey[17] Wisconsin-7 Democratic 30-32
November 16, 1970 – January 3, 1971 91st Robert Hampton Steele[17] Connecticut-2 Republican 32
January 3, 1971 – April 29, 1971 92nd M. Dawson Mathis[17] Georgia-2 Democratic 30
April 29, 1971 – October 12, 1972 92nd Mendel Jackson Davis South Carolina-1 Democratic 28-29
October 12, 1972 – January 3, 1975 92nd-93rd John B. Breaux[17] Louisiana-7 Democratic 28-30
January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1977 94th Thomas Joseph Downey[17] New York-2 Democratic 25-27
January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1979 95th Nick Joe Rahall, II[17][47] West Virginia-4 Democratic 27-29
January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1981 96th James Michael Shannon[17] Massachusetts-5 Democratic 26-28
January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1983 97th John LeBoutillier[17] New York-6 Republican 27-29
January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1985[49] 98th Jim Cooper[17][47] Tennessee-4 Democratic 28-30
November 6, 1984 – January 3, 1985 98th Carl C. Perkins[17][49] Kentucky-7 Democratic 30
January 3, 1985 – March 27, 1990 99th-101st John G. Rowland[17][50] Connecticut-5 Republican 27-32
March 27, 1990 – January 3, 1991 101st Susan Molinari[17][51] New York-14 Republican 32
January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1993 102nd Jim Nussle[17] Iowa-2 Republican 30-32
January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1995 103rd Cleo Fields[17] Louisiana-4 Democratic 30-32
January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1997 104th Patrick Kennedy[17] Rhode Island-1 Democratic 27-29
January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2001 105th-106th Harold Ford, Jr.[17] Tennessee-9 Democratic 26-30
January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2005 107th-108th Adam Putnam[17] Florida-12 Republican 26-30
January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2009 109th-110th Patrick T. McHenry[17][47] North Carolina-10 Republican 29-33
January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2013 111th-112th Aaron Schock[17][47] Illinois-18 Republican 27-31
January 3, 2013 – present 113th Patrick Murphy[17][47] Florida-18 Democratic 29-31

See also

References

  1. ^ Some of the starting dates reflect the actual date of the swearing-in of U.S. Senator (if appointed by the Governor to a vacancy or if by special elections) as opposed to the date of their elections, which can often vary from anywhere from days to months. If elected to a regular session, note that from 1789 until 1935, the starting date will reflect March 4th (through to March 3rd for a two-year Congress). Starting with 1937, Congress convened on January 3rd.
  2. ^ Some resources regard Gallatin only as a Senator-elect because of the challenge to his credentials, hence John Rutherfurd (F-NJ) could be considered the youngest official member of the body during this period. Gallatin was ultimately disqualified from service.
  3. ^ Sen. Josiah Tattnall's (D-R-GA) precise birthdate in 1762 is unknown. Since both he and James Ross (F-PA) were born the same year, credited both with the designation for youngest for the period from the swearing-in of Tattnall in April 1796 until the swearing-in of Richard Stockton (F-NJ) in December 1796, who was younger than both.
  4. ^ Sen. Henry Clay (D-R-KY) elected and served in the U.S. Senate while under the Constitutional age requirement of 30 at the age of 29 years.
  5. ^ Sen. John Pope's (D-R-KY) precise birthdate in 1770 is unknown. Since both he and Samuel White (F-DE) were born the same year, credited both with the designation for youngest for the period from the resignation of James Fenner (D-R-RI) in September 1807 until the swearing-in of William H. Crawford (D-R-GA) in December 1809, who was younger than both.
  6. ^ Sen. Jenkin Whiteside's (D-R-TN) precise birthdate in 1772 is unknown. Since both he and William H. Crawford (D-R-GA) were born the same year, credited both with the designation for youngest for the period from the swearing-in of Whiteside in 1809 until the swearing-in of Alexander Campbell (D-R-OH) in 1810, who was younger than both.
  7. ^ Sen. William Bulloch's (D-R-GA) precise birthdate in 1777 is unknown. Since both he and Outerbridge Horsey (F-DE) were born the same year, credited both with the designation for youngest for the 3 days from Bulloch's swearing-in until the swearing-in of Robert H. Goldsborough (F-MD), who was younger than both.
  8. ^ a b c William Wyatt Bibb was the first person to be the youngest member of both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Also held title of youngest member of the U.S. House.
  10. ^ Sen. Armistead Mason (D-R-VA) elected and served in the U.S. Senate while under the Constitutional age requirement of 30 at the age of 28 years, 5 months.
  11. ^ Sen. John Eaton (D-R-TN) elected and served in the U.S. Senate while under the Constitutional age requirement of 30. At 28 years, 4 months, he was the youngest ever to serve in that body.
  12. ^ Sen. Blanche K. Bruce became the first non-White youngest member of the Senate.
  13. ^ Senators Albert J. Beveridge (R-IN) and Joseph W. Bailey, Sr. (D-TX) were both born on October 6, 1862.
  14. ^ Sen. William James Bryan was the youngest U.S. Senator to die in office at the age of 31.
  15. ^ Sen. Rush Holt, Sr. was the youngest popularly elected Senator at 29 years and 4 months in November 1934. He was not permitted to take the oath of office until after his 30th birthday in June 1935.
  16. ^ Russell Long served the longest uninterrupted tenure as the youngest U.S. Senator at 8 years and 3 days. He was surpassed by Don Nickles (R-OK) in overall time, but Nickles's tenure was interrupted.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar Still living as of 2014.
  18. ^ Joe Biden was elected at the age of 29 years, 11 months, but turned 30 before the start of his term.
  19. ^ Don Nickles served the longest period as the youngest member of the U.S. Senate at 10 years, 4 months, 3 days, however, his tenure was interrupted by David Karnes (R-NE), who was six days younger, from 1987-88. Russell Long served the longest period uninterrupted at 8 years and 3 days.
  20. ^ a b c d e f Still serving in the U.S. Senate as of 2014.
  21. ^ Sen. Mark Pryor set the record as the oldest youngest Senator in the body's history at 46 years until the swearing-in of Michael Bennet (D-CO) in January 2009.
  22. ^ Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand became the first female youngest member of the Senate.
  23. ^ Some of the starting dates reflect the actual date of the swearing-in of the U.S. Congressmember (if due to a special election) as opposed to the date of their elections, which can often vary from anywhere from days to months. If elected to a regular session, note that from 1789 until 1935, the starting date will reflect March 4th (through to March 3rd for a 2-year Congress). Starting with 1937, Congress convened on January 3rd.
  24. ^ Until about the 34th Congress and rarely after, some members didn't have birthyears or birthdates listed, so attempted to ascertain approximate age with available biographical descriptions, though some were very limited. If more than one member had a birthyear but not birthdate listed, credited both with being youngest during a given period until the next confirmed younger member was sworn-in.
  25. ^ John Steele was elected to the NC 4th district for the 2nd Congress.
  26. ^ William C.C. Claiborne was the youngest-ever elected and seated member of Congress at approximately the age of 22, despite being below the Constitutional age requirement.
  27. ^ a b c During part of the 9th Congress, credited Congressmen John G. Jackson, John Claiborne and U.S. Delegate Benjamin Parke with sharing the title of youngest member. Jackson & Parke were born on the same day, but Claiborne had no birthdate listed, but all were born in 1777. They lost the title upon the swearing-in of William Burwell in the same Congress.
  28. ^ a b Indiana was not yet a state and this member was a non-voting U.S. Delegate.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h Also held title of youngest member of the U.S. Senate.
  30. ^ Although Wharton was 24 at the time of the official start of the 10th Congress in March 1807, it did not convene until October 1807 after he turned 25.
  31. ^ a b U.S. Delegate Jonathan Jennings and Congressman William T. Barry were both born in 1784, but because of unknown birthdate for Jennings, credited both with youngest during part of the 11th Congress.
  32. ^ Although King was 24 at the time of the official start of the 12th Congress in March 1811, it did not convene until November 1811 after he turned 25.
  33. ^ a b During part of the 17th Congress, credited Congressmen Daniel P. Cook and Andrew R. Govan with sharing the title of youngest member. Both were born in 1794, but birthdate for Cook was unknown, so credited both.
  34. ^ Arkansas was not yet a state and Sevier was a non-voting U.S. Delegate.
  35. ^ Congressman Dixon Lewis and Spencer Pettis were both born in 1802, but unknown birthdate for Pettis, so credited both with youngest for the 21st Congress.
  36. ^ Although Dickinson was 24 at the time of the official start of the 23rd Congress in March 1833, it did not convene until November 1833 after he turned 25.
  37. ^ Otero was the first Hispanic youngest member of the U.S. House.
  38. ^ New Mexico was not yet a state and Otero was a non-voting U.S. Delegate.
  39. ^ a b Although John Young Brown was elected at the start of the 36th Congress, being just 24 at the time of the election, he was not permitted to take his seat until the second session in December 1860 after his 25th birthday, so Albert G. Jenkins retained the title of youngest until Brown's swearing-in.
  40. ^ Thomas Noell was elected as a Republican to the 39th Congress and reelected to the 40th Congress as a Democrat.
  41. ^ Thomas Noell was the youngest known member of Congress to die in office at 28 while holding the youngest title.
  42. ^ Josiah Walls was the first Black youngest member of the U.S. House.
  43. ^ a b Benjamin F. Shively was elected to a vacancy in the 48th Congress as an Anti-Monopolist/Greenbacker-supported candidate. He was elected to the 50th Congress as a Democrat.
  44. ^ As the Philippines was a territory of the U.S., Resident Commissioner Manuel L. Quezon was a non-voting member of Congress.
  45. ^ Rep. John M. Baer was the oldest youngest member of the U.S. House at the age of 33 years and 4 months at the time he was succeeded in August 1919.
  46. ^ Lloyd Bentsen served the shortest period as the youngest member of the U.S. House at just 3 days.
  47. ^ a b c d e f Still serving in the U.S. House as of 2014.
  48. ^ As of 2014, Congressman John Dingell, Jr. is the Dean of the U.S. House, and the longest-serving member of the House ever.
  49. ^ a b Carl C. Perkins (D-KY) was elected to Congress to fill a vacancy on November 6, 1984, and was younger than titleholder Jim Cooper (D-TN), but owing to the 98th Congress having adjourned sine die, he was not sworn-in until the 99th Congress, by which time John Rowland (R-CT), who was younger than Perkins, claimed the title. Credited Cooper until the end of the 99th Congress as an official Congressman, as opposed to a Congressman-elect, but noted Perkins due to the unusual circumstances.
  50. ^ John Rowland served the longest period as the youngest member of the U.S. House at 5 years, 2 months.
  51. ^ Susan Molinari was the first woman to hold the title of youngest member of the U.S. House.
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