This article includes alist of references,related reading, orexternal links,but its sources remain unclear because it lacksinline citations. Please helpimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(March 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Wilbur L. Adams
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromDelaware'sat-large district
In office March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935
Preceded by	Robert G. Houston
Succeeded by	J. George Stewart
Personal details
Born	Wilbur Louis Adams (1884-10-23)October 23, 1884 Georgetown, Delaware
Died	December 4, 1937(1937-12-04) (aged 53) Lewes, Delaware
Resting place	Union Cemetery at South Race Street, Georgetown
Political party	Democratic
Residence	Wilmington, Delaware
Alma mater	Dickinson College University of Pennsylvania School of Law
Profession	Lawyer

Wilbur Louis Adams (October 23, 1884 – December 4, 1937) was an American lawyer and politician fromWilmington, inNew Castle County, Delaware. He was a member of theDemocratic Party, who served one term as U.S. Representative from Delaware from 1933 to 1935.

Adams was born inGeorgetown, Delaware, son of William Dunning Adams and Sarah Lavinia (Thompson) Adams.

He had attendedDelaware College inNewark andDickinson College inCarlisle, Pennsylvania. In 1907 he graduated from theUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Law at Philadelphia, was admitted to the Delaware Bar, and began the practice of law in Wilmington.

Adams was an unsuccessful candidate for election as state Attorney General in 1924.

In 1932, the incumbent Republican U.S. Representative,Robert G. Houston, was involved in an intra-party dispute over prohibition and failed to win the Republican nomination.^{[citation needed]} As a result, Adams was able to win a narrow victory, and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1932, defeating RepublicanReuben Satterthwaite Jr. Adams served with the Democratic majority in the 73rd Congress. In the U.S. House, Adams voted with the straightNew Deal program. He served from March 4, 1933, until January 3, 1935, during the administration of U.S. PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt.

In 1934, Adams decided not to seek reelection, but rather to challenge the popular incumbent U.S. SenatorJohn G. Townsend Jr. for his U.S. Senate seat. A thoughtful moderateRepublican, Townsend had supported much of the New Deal legislation, and had demonstrated considerable effectiveness through his involvement in the establishment of such things as theFederal Deposit Insurance Corporation. By contrast, Adams had a low profile in the House of Representatives and Townsend was able to raise questions about Adams' effectiveness for Delaware.^{[citation needed]}

Once again bucking national trends, Delaware had its own local Republican landslide in 1934, led by Townsend.

Adams came home and moved toGeorgetown, Delaware, where he continued the practice of law. He was also the acting Postmaster at Georgetown from May 6, 1937, until his death.

Adams died at the Beebe Hospital,Lewes, Delaware. He is buried in the Union Cemetery, located at South Race Street, Georgetown.

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. U.S. Representatives took office March 4 and have a two-year term. Since 1935 all Congressional terms began January 3.

• Carter, Richard B. (2001).Clearing New Ground, The Life of John G. Townsend Jr. Wilmington, Delaware: The Delaware Heritage Press.ISBN 0-924117-20-6.

• Encyclopedia Dickinsonia

• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Delaware's Members of Congress
• Encyclopedia Dickinsonia.
• Wilbur L. Adams atFind a Grave
• The Political Graveyard

• 1884 births
• 1937 deaths
• Lawyers from Wilmington, Delaware
• Politicians from Wilmington, Delaware
• People from Georgetown, Delaware
• Dickinson College alumni
• University of Pennsylvania Law School alumni
• Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Delaware
• Delaware postmasters
• 20th-century American lawyers
• 20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Articles lacking in-text citations from March 2013
• All articles lacking in-text citations
• Use mdy dates from August 2024
• All articles with unsourced statements
• Articles with unsourced statements from July 2025