James Sykes (governor)

James Sykes (1761 to 1822) was an American physician and surgeon from Dover, in Kent County, Delaware, who also became a state legislator and, for a short time, Governor of Delaware. The son of a member of the Delaware General Assembly, he studied medicine under Dr. Joshua Clayton and began practice in Cambridge, Maryland, before returning to Dover and settling on The Green. He became one of the state's most renowned surgeons, with a practice that gave particular attention to gallstones and yellow fever. In 1814 he moved his practice to New York City for six years, then came back to Dover to work with his son James, who was also a physician, and in 1822 he was made President of the Delaware Medical Society. His political career ran alongside his medicine: he served many terms in the State Senate, was its Speaker, and in 1801 succeeded the resigning Richard Bassett as governor, leaving office in January 1802.