Fast Facts
The House has elected or appointed employees to carry out a wide variety of tasks throughout its history. The officers’ duties are prescribed both by law and Rule II of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
More >Sergeants at Arms
Washington, D.C. - The National Legislature - The Sergeant-at-Arms Bringing in Absentee Members, Collection of the U.S. House of RepresentativesAbout this object
Mandated under the current House Rule II, the Sergeant at Arms also enforces protocol and ensures decorum during floor proceedings. The Mace, which symbolizes the authority of the House, is maintained by the Office of the Sergeant at Arms. On occasion, the Sergeant at Arms has presented the Mace to restore order on the floor. The Sergeant at Arms also is empowered to compel absent Members onto the House floor to conduct business. Over time, the office’s duties have encompassed administrative functions: arranging Capitol funerals, managing parking facilities, and issuing identification to Members and staff.
Eight Sergeants at Arms also served as U.S. Representatives either prior to or after their service as a House officer.
| Congress and Years | Name | State or Territory | Date Elected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st (1789–1791) | WHEATON, Joseph | RI | May 12, 1789 |
| 2nd (1791–1793) | WHEATON, Joseph | RI | Oct 24, 1791 |
| 3rd (1793–1795) | WHEATON, Joseph | RI | Dec 02, 1793 |
| 4th (1795–1797) | WHEATON, Joseph | RI | Dec 07, 1795 |
| 5th (1797–1799) | WHEATON, Joseph | RI | May 15, 1797 |
| 6th (1799–1801) | WHEATON, Joseph | RI | Dec 02, 1799 |
| 7th (1801–1803) | WHEATON, Joseph | RI | Dec 07, 1801 |
| 8th (1803–1805) | WHEATON, Joseph | RI | Oct 17, 1803 |
| 9th (1805–1807) | WHEATON, Joseph | RI | Dec 02, 1805 |
| 10th (1807–1809) | DUNN, Thomas | MD | Oct 27, 1807 |
| 11th (1809–1811) | DUNN, Thomas | MD | May 22, 1809 |
| 12th (1811–1813) | DUNN, Thomas | MD | Nov 04, 1811 |
| 13th (1813–1815) | DUNN, Thomas | MD | May 24, 1813 |
| 14th (1815–1817) | DUNN, Thomas | MD | Dec 04, 1815 |
| 15th (1817–1819) | DUNN, Thomas | MD | Dec 01, 1817 |
| 16th (1819–1821) | DUNN, Thomas | MD | Dec 06, 1819 |
| 17th (1821–1823) | DUNN, Thomas | MD | Dec 04, 1821 |
| 18th (1823–1825) | DUNN, Thomas | MD | Dec 01, 1823 |
| 18th (1823–1825) | DUNN, John O. 1 | DC | Dec 06, 1824 |
| 19th (1825–1827) | DUNN, John O. | DC | Dec 05, 1825 |
| 20th (1827–1829) | DUNN, John O. | DC | Dec 03, 1827 |
| 21st (1829–1831) | DUNN, John O. | DC | Dec 07, 1829 |
| 22nd (1831–1833) | DUNN, John O. | DC | Dec 07, 1831 |
| 23rd (1833–1835) | RANDOLPH, Thomas B. | VA | Dec 03, 1833 |
| 24th (1835–1837) | DORSEY, Roderick | MD | Dec 15, 1835 |
| 25th (1837–1839) | DORSEY, Roderick | MD | Sep 04, 1837 |
| 26th (1839–1841) | DORSEY, Roderick | MD | Dec 21, 1839 |
| 27th (1841–1843) | TOWNSEND, Eleazor M. | CT | Jun 08, 1841 |
| 28th (1843–1845) | LANE, Newton | KY | Dec 07, 1843 |
| 29th (1845–1847) | LANE, Newton | KY | Dec 03, 1845 |
| 30th (1847–1849) | SERGEANT, Nathan | VT | Dec 08, 1847 |
| 31st (1849–1851) | GLOSSBRENNER, Adam John | PA | Jan 15, 1850 |
| 32nd (1851–1853) | GLOSSBRENNER, Adam John | PA | Dec 01, 1851 |
| 33rd (1853–1855) | GLOSSBRENNER, Adam John | PA | Dec 05, 1853 |
| 34th (1855–1857) | GLOSSBRENNER, Adam John | PA | Feb 04, 1856 |
| 35th (1857–1859) | GLOSSBRENNER, Adam John | PA | Dec 07, 1857 |
| 36th (1859–1861) | HOFFMAN, Henry William | MD | Feb 03, 1860 |
| 37th (1861–1863) | BALL, Edward | OH | Jul 05, 1861 |
| 38th (1863–1865) | ORDWAY, Nehemiah G. | NH | Dec 08, 1863 |
| 39th (1865–1867) | ORDWAY, Nehemiah G. | NH | Dec 04, 1865 |
| 40th (1867–1869) | ORDWAY, Nehemiah G. | NH | Mar 05, 1867 |
| 41st (1869–1871) | ORDWAY, Nehemiah G. | NH | Mar 05, 1869 |
| 42nd (1871–1873) | ORDWAY, Nehemiah G. | NH | Mar 04, 1871 |
| 43rd (1873–1875) | ORDWAY, Nehemiah G. | NH | Dec 01, 1873 |
| 44th (1875–1877) | THOMPSON, John G. | OH | Dec 06, 1875 |
| 45th (1877–1879) | THOMPSON, John G. | OH | Oct 15, 1877 |
| 46th (1879–1881) | THOMPSON, John G. | OH | Mar 18, 1879 |
| 47th (1881–1883) | HOOKER, George W. | VT | Dec 05, 1881 |
| 48th (1883–1885) | LEEDOM, John Peter | OH | Dec 04, 1883 |
| 49th (1885–1887) | LEEDOM, John Peter | OH | Dec 07, 1885 |
| 50th (1887–1889) | LEEDOM, John Peter | OH | Dec 05, 1887 |
| 51st (1889–1891) | HOLMES, Adoniram Judson | IA | Dec 02, 1889 |
| 52nd (1891–1893) | YODER, Samuel S. | OH | Dec 08, 1891 |
| 53rd (1893–1895) | SNOW, Herman Wilber | IL | Sep 07, 1893 |
| 54th (1895–1897) | RUSSELL, Benjamin F. | MO | Dec 02, 1895 |
| 55th (1897–1899) | RUSSELL, Benjamin F. | MO | Mar 15, 1897 |
| 56th (1899–1901) | CASSON, Henry | WI | Dec 04, 1899 |
| 57th (1901–1903) | CASSON, Henry | WI | Dec 02, 1901 |
| 58th (1903–1905) | CASSON, Henry | WI | Nov 09, 1903 |
| 59th (1905–1907) | CASSON, Henry | WI | Dec 04, 1905 |
| 60th (1907–1909) | CASSON, Henry | WI | Dec 02, 1907 |
| 61st (1909–1911) | CASSON, Henry | WI | Mar 15, 1909 |
| 62nd (1911–1913) | JACKSON, Uriah Stokes 2 | IN | Apr 04, 1911 |
| 62nd (1911–1913) | RIDDELL, Charles F. | IN | Jul 18, 1912 3 |
| 63rd (1913–1915) | GORDON, Robert Bryarly | OH | Apr 07, 1913 |
| 64th (1915–1917) | GORDON, Robert Bryarly | OH | Dec 06, 1915 |
| 65th (1917–1919) | GORDON, Robert Bryarly | OH | Apr 02, 1917 |
| 66th (1919–1921) | RODGERS, Joseph G. 4 | PA | May 19, 1919 |
| 67th (1921–1923) | RODGERS, Joseph G. | PA | Apr 11, 1921 |
| 68th (1923–1925) | RODGERS, Joseph G. | PA | Dec 03, 1923 |
| 69th (1925–1927) | RODGERS, Joseph G. | PA | Dec 07, 1925 |
| 70th (1927–1929) | RODGERS, Joseph G. | PA | Dec 05, 1927 |
| 71st (1929–1931) | RODGERS, Joseph G. | PA | Apr 15, 1929 |
| 72nd (1931–1933) | ROMNEY, Kenneth | MT | Dec 07, 1931 |
| 73rd (1933–1935) | ROMNEY, Kenneth | MT | Mar 09, 1933 |
| 74th (1935–1937) | ROMNEY, Kenneth | MT | Jan 03, 1935 |
| 75th (1937–1939) | ROMNEY, Kenneth | MT | Jan 05, 1937 |
| 76th (1939–1941) | ROMNEY, Kenneth | MT | Jan 03, 1939 |
| 77th (1941–1943) | ROMNEY, Kenneth | MT | Jan 03, 1941 |
| 78th (1943–1945) | ROMNEY, Kenneth | MT | Jan 06, 1943 |
| 79th (1945–1947) | ROMNEY, Kenneth | MT | Jan 03, 1945 |
| 80th (1947–1949) | RUSSELL, William F. | PA | Jan 03, 1947 |
| 81st (1949–1951) | CALLAHAN, Joseph H. | KY | Jan 03, 1949 |
| 82nd (1951–1953) | CALLAHAN, Joseph H. | KY | Jan 03, 1951 |
| 83rd (1953–1955) | RUSSELL, William F. 5 | PA | Jan 03, 1953 |
| 83rd (1953–1955) | SNADER, Lyle O. | IL | Jul 08, 1953 6 |
| 83rd (1953–1955) | BONSELL, William R. | PA | Jan 11, 1954 7 |
| 84th (1955–1957) | JOHNSON, Zeake W. Jr. | TN | Jan 05, 1955 |
| 85th (1957–1959) | JOHNSON, Zeake W. Jr. | TN | Jan 03, 1957 |
| 86th (1959–1961) | JOHNSON, Zeake W. Jr. | TN | Jan 07, 1959 |
| 87th (1961–1963) | JOHNSON, Zeake W. Jr. | TN | Jan 03, 1961 |
| 88th (1963–1965) | JOHNSON, Zeake W. Jr. | TN | Jan 09, 1963 |
| 89th (1965–1967) | JOHNSON, Zeake W. Jr. | TN | Jan 04, 1965 |
| 90th (1967–1969) | JOHNSON, Zeake W. Jr. | TN | Jan 10, 1967 |
| 91st (1969–1971) | JOHNSON, Zeake W. Jr. | TN | Jan 03, 1969 |
| 92nd (1971–1973) | JOHNSON, Zeake W. Jr. 8 | TN | Jan 21, 1971 |
| 92nd (1971–1973) | HARDING, Kenneth R. | VA | Oct 01, 1972 9 |
| 93rd (1973–1975) | HARDING, Kenneth R. | VA | Jan 03, 1973 |
| 94th (1975–1977) | HARDING, Kenneth R. | VA | Jan 14, 1975 |
| 95th (1977–1979) | HARDING, Kenneth R. | VA | Jan 04, 1977 |
| 96th (1979–1981) | HARDING, Kenneth R. | VA | Jan 15, 1979 |
| 96th (1979–1981) | GUTHRIE, Benjamin J. | VA | Mar 01, 1980 |
| 97th (1981–1983) | GUTHRIE, Benjamin J. | VA | Jan 05, 1981 |
| 98th (1983–1985) | RUSS, Jack | MD | Jan 03, 1983 |
| 99th (1985–1987) | RUSS, Jack | MD | Jan 03, 1985 |
| 100th (1987–1989) | RUSS, Jack | MD | Jan 06, 1987 |
| 101st (1989–1991) | RUSS, Jack | MD | Jan 03, 1989 |
| 102nd (1991–1993) | RUSS, Jack 10 | MD | Jan 03, 1991 |
| 102nd (1991–1993) | BRANDT, Werner W. | VA | Mar 12, 1992 11 |
| 103rd (1993–1995) | BRANDT, Werner W. | VA | Jan 05, 1993 |
| 104th (1995–1997) | LIVINGOOD, Wilson “Bill” | VA | Jan 04, 1995 |
| 105th (1997–1999) | LIVINGOOD, Wilson “Bill” | VA | Jan 07, 1997 |
| 106th (1999–2001) | LIVINGOOD, Wilson “Bill” | VA | Jan 06, 1999 |
| 107th (2001–2003) | LIVINGOOD, Wilson “Bill” | VA | Jan 03, 2001 |
| 108th (2003–2005) | LIVINGOOD, Wilson “Bill” | VA | Jan 07, 2003 |
| 109th (2005–2007) | LIVINGOOD, Wilson “Bill” | VA | Jan 04, 2005 |
| 110th (2007–2009) | LIVINGOOD, Wilson “Bill” | VA | Jan 04, 2007 |
| 111th (2009–2011) | LIVINGOOD, Wilson “Bill” | VA | Jan 06, 2009 |
| 112th (2011–2013) | LIVINGOOD, Wilson “Bill” | VA | Jan 05, 2011 |
| 112th (2011–2013) | IRVING, Paul 12 | FL | Jan 17, 2012 |
Footnotes
1Elected to full the vacancy caused by the death of Thomas Dunn, House Journal, 18th Cong., 2nd sess., (December 6, 1824): 8.
2Died in June 1912. Also listed in the House Journal as Ulysses S. Jackson and W. Stokes Jackson.
3Elected to fill the vacancy following Jackson’s death. See, House Journal, 62nd Cong., 1st sess., (July 18, 1912): 873.
4Rodgers’ last name is listed as both “Rodgers” and “Rogers” in House Journal and Congressional Directory.
5Died July 7, 1953.
6Snader was the Clerk of the House and was appointed the duties of Sergeant at Arms until a replacement was elected. See, House Journal, 83rd Cong., 1st sess., (July 8, 1953): 545.
7Appointed September 15, 1953, “to act temporarily as Sergeant at Arms.” See House Journal, 93rd Cong., 1st sess., (January 6, 1954): 14.
8Resigned office on September 30, 1972. See, House Journal, 92nd Cong., 2nd sess., (September 25, 1972): 1105.
9Elected Sergeant at Arms, effective October 1, 1972. See, H. Res. 1134, Congressional Record, 92nd Congress, 2nd sess., (September 25, 1972): 1105.
10Resigned March 12, 1992. See, Congressional Record, 102nd Cong., 2nd sess., (March 12, 1992): 1224.
11Appointed by the Speaker on March 12, 1992, “to act as and to exercise temporarily” the duties of the Sergeant at Arms. See, Congressional Record, 102nd Cong., 2nd sess., (March 12, 1992): 1224.
12Resigned office on January 17, 2012. See, Congressional Record, 112nd Cong., 2nd sess., (January 17, 2012): H10.