A member of the Republican Party while in the Senate, Worthington previously served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as a Democrat from 1833 to 1834.

He attended West Chester Academy, read medicine as a pupil of Dr. William Darlington, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1825.

He backed Stephen A. Douglas for president in 1860 but on the outbreak of the American Civil War allied himself with the Republicans.

He served as the Speaker of the Senate (equivalent to the president pro tempore) during his final year in office.

[1][2][3] Worthington championed legislation that established the Soldier’s Orphans Schools, the Board of Public Charities, and County Superintendents of Education.

In 1870, Worthington resigned to accept a gubernatorial appointment as general agent and secretary of the newly established Pennsylvania State Board of Public Charities.