Thomas F. Bayard, Jr.

Thomas F. Bayard, Jr.
United States Senator from Delaware
In office November 8, 1922 – March 3, 1929
Preceded by	T. Coleman du Pont
Succeeded by	John G. Townsend, Jr.
Personal details
Born	June 4, 1868 Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
Died	July 12, 1942 (aged 74) Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Bradford du Pont (m. 1908)
Residence	Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
Alma mater	Yale University
Profession	lawyer
Religion	Episcopalian

Thomas Francis Bayard, Jr. (June 4, 1868 – July 12, 1942) was an American lawyer and politician from Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a Democratic U.S. Senator from Delaware in the 1920s.

Early life and family

Bayard was born in Wilmington, Delaware, son of U.S. Senator Thomas F. Bayard, Sr. and grandson of U.S. Senator James A. Bayard, Jr. In 1908, he married Elizabeth Bradford du Pont, and they had five children, Elizabeth, Thomas, Ellen, James, and Alexis. They were members of the Episcopal Church.

Bayard graduated from Yale University in 1890, where he was a member of Skull and Bones,^[1]:29 attended Yale Law School and was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1893. After living in New York City for four years and working as assistant corporation counsel, he returned to his Delaware law practice in 1901.

He married Elizabeth Bradford du Pont on October 4, 1908.^[2]

He served as a chairman of the Delaware Democratic Party's state committee from 1906 to 1916, and as solicitor for the city of Wilmington from 1917 until 1919.

Professional and political career

Bayard was elected to the U.S. Senate in a special election on November 7, 1922, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of U.S. Senator Josiah O. Wolcott. On the same day, he was also elected for the full term to follow, in both instances defeating incumbent Republican U.S. Senator T. Coleman du Pont (a cousin of Bayard's wife), who had been appointed. During this term, he served in the Democratic minority in the last session of the 67th Congress, and in the 68th, 69th, and 70th Congress.

Bayard lost his bid for a second full term in 1928 to Republican John G. Townsend, Jr., the former governor. He then lost another bid for a second full term in 1930 to incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Daniel O. Hastings. In all, Bayard served one term and part of another, from November 7, 1922 to March 3, 1929, during the administrations of U.S. Presidents Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge. Subsequently, he resumed his law practice in Wilmington.

Death and legacy

Bayard died at Wilmington and is buried there in the Old Swedes Episcopal Church Cemetery. His son, Alexis I. du Pont Bayard, served as Lieutenant Governor of Delaware from 1949 to 1953.

He is the namesake of the town of Bayard, West Virginia.^[3]

References

1. "Obituary Record Of Graduates Of Yale University Deceased During The Year, 1942-1943" (PDF). Yale University. January 1, 1944. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
2. "Bayard - du Pont". New York Times. October 4, 1908. Retrieved 2012-11-28. At Rencourt, near Greenville, to-day, Miss Elizabeth B. Du Pont, daughter of Alexis Irene Du Pont and the late Dr. Alexis I. Du Pont, was married to Thomas F. Bayard, son of the late Ambassador Bayard. ...
3. Kenny, Hamill (1945). West Virginia Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning, Including the Nomenclature of the Streams and Mountains. Piedmont, WV: The Place Name Press. p. 98.

Public Offices
Office	Type	Location	Began office	Ended office	notes
U.S. Senator	Legislature	Washington	November 7, 1922	March 3, 1923
U.S. Senator	Legislative	Washington	March 4, 1923	March 3, 1929

United States Congressional service
Dates	Congress	Chamber	Majority	President	Committees	Class/District
1922–1923	67th	U.S. Senate	Republican	Warren G. Harding Calvin Coolidge		class 1
1923–1925	68th	U.S. Senate	Republican	Calvin Coolidge		class 1
1925–1927	69th	U.S. Senate	Republican	Calvin Coolidge		class 1
1927–1929	70th	U.S. Senate	Republican	Calvin Coolidge		class 1

Election results
Year	Office	Election		Subject	Party	Votes	%		Opponent	Party	Votes	%
1922	U.S. Senator	Special		Thomas F. Bayard, Jr.	Democratic	36,954	50%		T. Coleman du Pont	Republican	36,894	50%
1922	U.S. Senator	General		Thomas F. Bayard, Jr.	Democratic	37,304	50%		T. Coleman du Pont	Republican	36,979	49%
1928	U.S. Senator	General		Thomas F. Bayard, Jr.	Democratic	40,828	39%		John G. Townsend, Jr.	Republican	63,725	61%
1930	U.S. Senator	General		Thomas F. Bayard, Jr.	Democratic	39,881	45%		Daniel O. Hastings	Republican	47,909	54%

References

• Carter, Richard B. (2001). Clearing New Ground, The Life of John G. Townsend, Jr. Wilmington, Delaware: The Delaware Heritage Press. ISBN 0-924117-20-6.
• Munroe, John A. (1993). History of Delaware. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press. ISBN 0-87413-493-5.

Images

• Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress; photograph courtesy of the Library of Congress.

External links

• Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress
• Delaware’s Members of Congress
• Find a Grave
• The Political Graveyard