US Senator. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a Delaware US Senator from March 1851 until January 1864 and again from April 1867 until March 1869. Born into a prominent Delaware political family, his father, James Asheton Bayard, Sr., served in the US House of Representatives from March 1797 until March 1803 as well as the US Senate from November 1804 until March 1813. After studying law, he became a practicing lawyer in Wilmington, Delaware and served as US Attorney for Delaware from 1836 until 1843. In 1851 he was elected by the Delaware legislature to the US Senate, replacing John Wales. During his tenure in the US Senate, he chaired the Committee on Engrossed Bills (1851 until 1853), served on the Committee on Public Buildings (1853 until 1858), and served on the Committee on Judiciary (1859 until 1864). In January 1864 he resigned from the US Senate after a dispute over the legality of taking an oath of loyalty to the Union cause and returned to his law practice. Following the death of his successor, George R. Riddle in March 1867, he was elected by the Delaware legislature the following month to fill it, serving until the term expired in March 1869 and returned once again to his law practice. His son, Thomas Francis Bayard, Sr. was elected to take his Senatorial seat and he would serve from March 1869 until March 1885. In poor health during the last years of his life, he died at the age of 80. His older brother, Richard Henry Bayard, also served as a Delaware US Senator from January 1841 until March 1845.
US Senator. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a Delaware US Senator from March 1851 until January 1864 and again from April 1867 until March 1869. Born into a prominent Delaware political family, his father, James Asheton Bayard, Sr., served in the US House of Representatives from March 1797 until March 1803 as well as the US Senate from November 1804 until March 1813. After studying law, he became a practicing lawyer in Wilmington, Delaware and served as US Attorney for Delaware from 1836 until 1843. In 1851 he was elected by the Delaware legislature to the US Senate, replacing John Wales. During his tenure in the US Senate, he chaired the Committee on Engrossed Bills (1851 until 1853), served on the Committee on Public Buildings (1853 until 1858), and served on the Committee on Judiciary (1859 until 1864). In January 1864 he resigned from the US Senate after a dispute over the legality of taking an oath of loyalty to the Union cause and returned to his law practice. Following the death of his successor, George R. Riddle in March 1867, he was elected by the Delaware legislature the following month to fill it, serving until the term expired in March 1869 and returned once again to his law practice. His son, Thomas Francis Bayard, Sr. was elected to take his Senatorial seat and he would serve from March 1869 until March 1885. In poor health during the last years of his life, he died at the age of 80. His older brother, Richard Henry Bayard, also served as a Delaware US Senator from January 1841 until March 1845.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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