Portrait of Martin Bates

Martin Bates was a lawyer in Dover, who married Mary Hillyard, the daughter of Charles Hillyard III, who originally built Woodburn. In fact, the couple lived at Woodburn for a time. Bates served in the Delaware State House of Representatives, ran unsuccessfully for United States Congress three times, and was eventually appointed to a seat in the United States Senate when the elected senator died in office. Bates was a member of the U.S. Senate from 1857-1859.