Michael Newbold Castle, commonly known as Mike Castle, was a prominent American politician and lawyer who dedicated over four decades to public service in Delaware and at the federal level. Born on July 2, 1939, in Wilmington, Delaware, he descended from Founding Fathers Benjamin Franklin and Daniel Carroll. He earned a Bachelor of Science in economics from Hamilton College in 1961 and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center in 1964. His political career began in the Delaware House of Representatives (1966-1969) and State Senate (1969-1977), where he rose to minority leader. As a moderate Republican, he emphasized bipartisan cooperation, fiscal responsibility, and welfare reform. Castle served as Lieutenant Governor of Delaware (1981-1985) and then as the 69th Governor of Delaware (1985-1992). He transitioned to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Delaware's at-large district from 1993 to 2011. A centrist and founding member of the Republican Main Street Partnership, he served on key House committees and contributed to landmark legislation including the Welfare Reform Act of 1996, the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, the No Child Left Behind Act, the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, and the 50 State Quarters Program. In 2010, he sought the U.S. Senate seat but lost in the Republican primary to Tea Party candidate Christine O'Donnell. After leaving Congress, he joined DLA Piper's government affairs practice and held board positions including chair of Research!America (2017-2021). He remained active in public service until his death on August 14, 2025, at age 86, leaving a legacy as Delaware's last Republican governor and congressman as of 2025.