Representative Robert Griffith Houston

Robert Griffith Houston (October 13, 1867 – January 29, 1946) was an American lawyer, publisher, and politician from Georgetown, in Sussex County, Delaware. A member of the Republican Party, he served four terms as U.S. Representative from Delaware from 1925 to 1933. His surname, “Houston,” is pronounced “house-ton,” unlike the city in Texas with the same spelling. Over the course of his public career, he contributed to the legislative process during a period of major political and economic change in the United States, representing the interests of his Delaware constituents in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Houston was born on October 13, 1867, in Georgetown, Delaware, a historic county seat in Sussex County. Growing up in this largely rural and agricultural region of southern Delaware, he was shaped by the political and economic life of a small but influential community that often produced local officeholders and civic leaders. His early years in Georgetown placed him at the center of local legal and commercial activity, an environment that would later inform both his legal practice and his work as a publisher and politician.

Educated in Delaware, Houston pursued the study of law and prepared for admission to the bar at a time when legal training often combined formal study with apprenticeship under established attorneys. He qualified as a lawyer and was admitted to practice in Delaware, establishing himself professionally in Georgetown. His legal education and early practice provided him with a detailed understanding of state and local law, property issues, and the regulatory concerns of a small but growing state, all of which would later prove valuable in his legislative work.

In addition to his legal career, Houston became involved in publishing, a role that placed him at the intersection of law, politics, and public opinion. As a publisher, he participated in shaping public discourse in Delaware, using the press to engage with political issues and inform citizens. This dual career as lawyer and publisher enhanced his visibility and influence in Sussex County and across the state, helping to establish his reputation as a capable advocate and community leader within Republican Party circles.

Houston’s growing prominence in legal and civic affairs led naturally to more direct political involvement. As a Republican in a state with a competitive two-party environment, he became part of the organizational structure of the party in Delaware, contributing to its efforts to mobilize voters and articulate policy positions. His professional background and public profile made him a logical choice for higher office, and he emerged as a candidate for Congress at a time when Delaware, with its single at-large seat, required its representative to address the concerns of the entire state.

Elected as a Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives, Houston served as the at-large Representative from Delaware from 1925 to 1933, encompassing four consecutive terms in Congress. His tenure covered the latter part of the prosperous 1920s and the onset of the Great Depression after the stock market crash of 1929. During these years, he participated in the democratic process at the national level, contributing to debates and legislation on economic, agricultural, and regulatory issues that were of particular importance to Delaware’s mixed industrial and agricultural economy. As a member of the House, he worked to represent the interests of his constituents, balancing local concerns from Sussex County and the broader needs of the state with the national priorities of the Republican Party.

Houston’s congressional service placed him in the midst of significant shifts in American political life, including the transition from the Republican dominance of the 1920s to the Democratic ascendancy associated with the early New Deal era. After completing his fourth term in 1933, he left Congress as the country was turning toward new approaches to economic recovery and social policy. In his post-congressional years, he remained identified with Georgetown and Sussex County, drawing on his long experience as a lawyer, publisher, and public servant. Robert Griffith Houston died on January 29, 1946, leaving a legacy as a prominent Delaware Republican who helped guide his state through a critical period in the nation’s history.