The First to Resign

Democrat Anthony Weiner’s (NY-09) resignation on Thursday comes 220 years, 10 months, and three days since the first congressman resigned from the nation’s lower legislative chamber. On August 14, 1790 Pro-Administration Representative George Partridge from Massachusetts’ 5th Congressional District became the first and only member to resign from the House in the 1st Congress. Partridge had also previously represented Massachusetts as a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1779-1785.