Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate
Officer State or Territory Tenure Congress
James Mathers New York April 7 , 1789 - September 2 , 1811 1st - 12th
Mountjoy Bayly Maryland November 6 , 1811 - December 9 , 1833 12th - 23rd
John Shackford New Hampshire December 9 , 1833 - August 16 , 1837 23rd - 25th
Stephen Haight New York September 4 , 1837 - January 12 , 1841 25th - 26th
Edward Dyer Maryland March 8 , 1841 - September 16 , 1845 27th - 29th
Robert Beale Virginia December 9 , 1845 - March 17 , 1853 29th - 33rd
Dunning R. McNair Pennsylvania March 17 , 1853 - July 6 , 1861 33rd - 37th
George T. Brown Illinois July 6 , 1861 - March 22 , 1869 37th - 41st
John R. French New Hampshire March 22 , 1869 - March 24 , 1879 41st - 46th
Richard J . Bright Indiana March 24 , 1879 - December 18 , 1883 46th - 48th
William P. Canaday North Carolina December 18 , 1883 - June 30 , 1890 48th - 51st
Edward K. Valentine Nebraska June 30 , 1890 - August 7 , 1893 51st - 53rd
Richard J . Bright Indiana August 8 , 1893 - February 1 , 1900 53rd - 56th
Daniel M. Ransdell Indiana February 1 , 1900 - August 26 , 1912 56th - 62nd
E. Livingston Cornelius Maryland December 10 , 1912 - March 4 , 1913 62nd
Charles P. Higgins Missouri March 13 , 1913 - March 3 , 1919 63rd - 65th
David S. Barry Rhode Island May 19 , 1919 - February 7 , 1933 66th - 72nd
Chesley W. Jurney Texas March 9 , 1933 - January 31 , 1943 73rd - 78th
Wall Doxey Mississippi February 1 , 1943 - January 3 , 1947 78th - 79th
Edward F. McGinnis Illinois January 4 , 1947 - January 2 , 1949 80th
List of the Sergeants at Arms of the Senate
The Sergeant at Arms of the Senate or originally known as the Doorkeeper of the Senate from the First Congress until the Eighth Congress (April 7, 1789 - March 3, 1803) is the highest-ranking federal law enforcement officer in the Senate of the United States. One of the chief roles of the sergeant at arms is to hold the gavel used at every session. The Sergeant at Arms can also compel the attendance of an absent senator when ordered to do so by the Senate. With the Architect of the Capitol and the House Sergeant at Arms, he serves on the Capitol Police Board, responsible for security around the building. The Sergeant at Arms can, upon orders of the Senate, arrest and detain any person who violates Senate rules. or is found in contempt of Congress. The sergeant at arms is also the executive officer for the Senate and provides senators with computers, equipment, and repair and security services. In March 2014, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that Terrance W. Gainer was planning on retiring as Senate Sergeant at Arms, and would be replaced by Senate Deputy Sergeant at Arms Andrew B. Willison. On January 6, 2015, the Senate swore in the sergeant at arms for its current term, Frank J. Larkin, who later retired in early 2018. On April 16, 2018, after Frank J. Larkin retired, Michael C. Stenger was nominated as the 41st Sergeant at Arms under Senate Resolution 465, put forth by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. This resolution was submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment by unanimous consent.