4 longest House speaker elections in US history

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Thursday, January 05, 2023

John W. Taylor – 22 ballots

Former speaker of the House John W. Taylor (1784-1854), who represented New York while in Congress. | Wikimedia Commons

Rep. John W. Taylor of New York was elected speaker of the House in 1820, replacing Congressman Henry Clay of South Carolina, who had resigned.

An adamant abolitionist, Taylor had a tough contest to gain the position, due to the growing pro-slavery sentiment of southern states at the time.

“Taylor, a House veteran of seven years, ran for the office on three issues, including opposition to extending slavery into territories and new states. His opponent from South Carolina, the popular and pro-slavery William Lowndes, came within one vote of winning during the 22 ballots that were cast,” wrote Lawrence Gooley of the Adirondack Almanack.

“Taylor eked out a narrow victory. Some historians cite the election and the Missouri Compromise as the first signs of deep and dangerous divisions in the young Union, with one section directly opposing another as if they were enemies.”

A long-serving member of Congress, Taylor again served as House speaker for the 19th Congress, from 1825-1827. This time, it only took two ballots for him to secure the leadership position.