Thomas F. Bayard, Jr.

Infobox Officeholder
honorific-prefix =
name = Thomas F. Bayard, Jr.
honorific-suffix =


imagesize =
small

office = U. S. Senator from Delaware
term_start = November 7 1921
term_end = March 3 1929
predecessor = T. Coleman du Pont
successor = John G. Townsend, Jr.
birth_date = birth date|1868|6|4|mf=y
birth_place = Wilmington, Delaware
death_date = death date and age|1942|7|12|1868|6|4
death_place = Wilmington, Delaware
spouse = Elizabeth Bradford du Pont
party = Democratic
residence = Wilmington, Delaware
alma_mater = Yale University
occupation =
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 member of the Democratic Party, who served two terms as U.S. Senator from Delaware.

Early life and family

Bayard was born June 4 1868 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, 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 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.

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, 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 89th, 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 2 1922 to March 4 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 July 12 1942 in Wilmington, and is buried in the Old Swedes Church Cemetery there. His son, Alexis I. duPont Bayard, served as Lieutenant Governor of Delaware from 1949 to 1953.

Public offices

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1st. U.S. Senators took office March 4th for a six year term. Before 1913, the General Assembly elected the U.S. Senators, and afterwards they were popularly elected.