To elect a chaplain, votes for bates are coded 1, for braxton 2, for balch 5, for danforth 6, for others 8, for not voting 9.

On Feb 4, 1840, the House voted 85–0. Result: passed. By party: Others 83–11, Democrats 79–8. 8 members voted against their own party.

During the 26th Congress (1839–1840), Martin Van Buren was president.

Yes: 85
No: 0
Did not vote: 74
Date: Feb 4, 1840

By party

Democrats79 yes · 8 no · 40 didn’t vote
Others83 yes · 11 no · 34 didn’t vote

Who broke with their party

Edward Cross D-AR voted no
Charles Biddle Shepard D-NC voted no
Stephen Banks Leonard D-NY voted no
George May Keim D-PA voted no
Isaac Leet D-PA voted no
Robert Barnwell Rhett D-SC voted no
Harvey Magee Watterson D-TN voted no
William Lucas D-VA voted no

How each representative voted: Yes

How each representative voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

Cite or embed this page

Capitol Receipts, “To elect a chaplain, votes for bates are…: House Vote, Feb 4, 1840,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/26-H-116/to-elect-a-chaplain-votes-for-bates-are-coded (accessed 2026-10-13).