Ralph Izard

Ralph Izard
Ralph Izard 1793, by John Trumbull, American, 1756–1843
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
In office May 31, 1794 – November 9, 1794
President	George Washington
Preceded by	John Langdon
Succeeded by	Henry Tazewell
United States Senator from South Carolina
In office March 4, 1789 – March 4, 1795
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Jacob Read
Delegate from South Carolina to the Congress of the Confederation
In office November 4, 1782 – November 1, 1783
Personal details
Born	January 23, 1741 / 1742 near Charleston, South Carolina
Died	May 30, 1804 (aged 62–63) near Charleston, South Carolina
Political party	Pro-Administration
Spouse(s)	Alice DeLancey
Children	Ralph Izard George Izard
Alma mater	Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Profession	Planter
Signature

Ralph Izard (January 23, 1741/1742 – May 30, 1804) was a U.S. politician. He served as President pro tempore of the United States Senate in 1794.

Early life

Izard was born at "The Elms" near Charleston, South Carolina. He was the son of Henry Izard and Margaret Johnson. His great-grandfather was Ralph Izard (1660–1710), who was born in Dorchester, England and settled in South Carolina. His maternal grandfather was Province of South Carolina Governor Robert Johnson. Izard's parents died when he was a small child, and only one of his siblings survived to adulthood. He spent most of his childhood and youth studying in England: he attended a school in Hackney, London, and matriculated as a fellow-commoner at Trinity Hall, Cambridge.^[1] Izard returned to America in 1764, but did not remain in South Carolina for long. In 1767, he married Alice DeLancey of New York, a niece of James DeLancey and a descendant of Stephanus Van Cortlandt and Gertrude Schuyler. They had 13 children between 1768 and 1792.

Career

He resided in London in 1771 and moved to Paris, France, in 1776. He was appointed commissioner to the Court of Tuscany by the Continental Congress in 1776, but was recalled in 1779. He returned to America in 1780 and pledged his large estate in South Carolina for the payment of war ships to be used in the American Revolutionary War. He was a member of the Continental Congress in 1782 and 1783. In 1788, he was elected to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1789, to March 4, 1795, serving as President pro tempore of the Senate during the Third Congress.

Death and legacy

Ralph and Alice Izard by John Singleton Copley

Izard retired from public life to the care of his estates and died near Charleston. He is interred in the churchyard of St. James Goose Creek Episcopal Church, near Charleston.

Izard was one of the founders of the College of Charleston. His children and relations married well:

• His son Ralph, was a naval hero of Tripoli. The World War II USS Izard was named after him. (Ralph's wife was a niece of Arthur Middleton.)
• A son, Major General George Izard, was a Governor of Arkansas.
• A daughter, Anne, married William Allan Deas {1764-1863} with whom they had a son, the painter, Charles Deas. William's brother was Col James Sutherland Deas {1784-1864} who was the father of CS General Zachariah Cantey Deas
• A daughter Charlotte married William Loughton Smith {a son of S.C. Assemblyman Benjamin Smith}; William L. Smith was also a brother-in-law of South Carolina Congressman Isaac Motte.
• A cousin Sarah Izard married South Carolina Loyalist Governor Lord William Campbell.
• One niece was a daughter-in-law of Loyalist Governor of Georgia James Wright (governor).
• Another niece was a daughter-in-law of Congressman of South Carolina Thomas Pinckney.
• A great-grandson of Ralph Izard was Charles Manigault Morris who was also a great-grandson of Lewis Morris. A cousin of Charles Manigault Morris was General Arthur Middleton Manigault who was descended from Mary Izard-cousin of Ralph Izard

References

1. "Izard, Ralph (ISRT761R)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.

External links

• Ralph Izard at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress