Alexis I. du Pont Bayard
Alexis I. du Pont Bayard | |
---|---|
13th Lieutenant Governor of Delaware | |
In office January 20, 1949 – January 15, 1953 | |
Governor | Elbert N. Carvel |
Preceded by | Elbert N. Carvel |
Succeeded by | John W. Rollins |
Personal details | |
Born | Alexis Irénée du Pont Bayard February 11, 1918 Old Swedes Episcopal Church Cemetery |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse |
Jane Brady Hildreth (m. 1944) |
Children | 6 |
Parent(s) | Thomas F. Bayard Jr. Elizabeth Bradford du Pont |
Residence(s) | Greenville, Delaware |
Alma mater | Princeton University University of Virginia School of Law |
Profession | Lawyer |
Military service | |
Branch/service | United States Marine Corps |
Battles/wars | Battle of Iwo Jima |
Alexis Irénée du Pont Bayard (February 11, 1918 – September 3, 1985) was an American lawyer and politician from Rockland, near
Early life
Bayard was born in
Bayard attended St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire. He graduated from Princeton University in 1940. He later attended the University of Virginia School of Law and was admitted to the bar in 1948.[1]
Career
World War II
During World War II, he served in the United States Marine Corps. He was wounded during the Battle of Iwo Jima.[1]
Political career
This section needs additional citations for verification. (July 2021) |
A war era veteran with a well-known name, the 30-year-old Bayard was elected lieutenant governor in 1948,[1][2] defeating Republican Chester V. Townsend Jr. of Dagsboro, who was speaker of the Delaware House of Representatives. He served as lieutenant governor from January 20, 1949, until January 15, 1953. In 1948 he also served as an alternate delegate to the Democratic National Convention.
Bayard lost a bid for a seat in the United States Senate in 1952 to the incumbent Republican U.S. Senator John J. Williams.[3] Bayard's inexperience and aristocratic roots compared unfavorably[according to whom?] to Williams' "rags-to-riches" rise from chicken farmer to national figure. These factors, along with Williams' reputation for honesty, integrity, fairness, and bipartisanship in the U.S. Senate and the popularity of the Republicans' U.S. presidential candidate, Dwight D. Eisenhower, led the incumbent to a ten-point victory over Bayard at the polls.
After his defeat by Williams, Bayard resumed his law practice in Wilmington and remained an active supporter of the Democratic Party. In 1954, he served as campaign chairman of the Delaware Democratic Committee. In 1967, he became the state Democratic chairman.[1] In 1970, he became a member of the finance committee of the Democratic National Committee and held this position until his death.[1]
In 1961 he joined what had been the Herrmann & Duffy law firm in Wilmington;[4] at the time of his death the firm was Bayard, Handelman & Murdoch.[1]
Personal life
He married Jane Brady Hildreth on April 24, 1944.[citation needed] He had six children: Alexis I., Eugene H., Richard H., John F., William B. and Jane H.[1]
He was known as "Lex" in his law practice.[1]
Death
Bayard died in
Legacy
Bayard was the last member of his line to be elected to public office, thus ending a six-generation tradition. After his death, the Alexis I. du Pont Bayard Award was created for distinguished service to the party. His son, Richard H. Bayard, has served as chairman of the Delaware Democratic Party.
Almanac
Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. The lieutenant governor takes office the third Tuesday of January and has a four-year term.
Public offices | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Office | Type | Location | Began office | Ended office | notes | |
Lt. governor
|
Executive | Dover | January 20, 1949 | January 15, 1953 |
Election results | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Office | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||
1948 | Lt. governor
|
Alexis I. du Pont Bayard | Democratic | 74,605 | 53% | Chester V. Townsend Jr. | Republican | 65,545 | 47% | ||
1952
|
U.S. senator | Alexis I. du Pont Bayard | Democratic | 77,685 | 45% | John J. Williams | Republican | 93,020 | 55% |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Van Atta, Burr (1975-09-05). "Alexis I. Du Pont Bayard, Lawyer And Political Leader". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 14C. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
- ^ Winslow, Helen L., Editor in Chief (1994). The Delaware Bar in the Twentieth Century. Wilmington, DE: The Delaware State Bar Association. p. 554.
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has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Winslow, Helen L., Editor in Chief (1994). The Delaware Bar in the Twentieth Century. Wilmington, DE: The Delaware State Bar Association. pp. 554–55.
{{cite book}}
:|first=
has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "About Us - Bayard, P.A." Bayard, P.A. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
Further reading
- Hoffecker, Carol E. (2000). Honest John Williams. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press.
- Delaware Historical Society; website; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; (302) 655-7161
- University of Delaware; Library website; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; (302) 831-2965
External links
- Delaware's Lieutenant Governors
- Alexis I. du Pont Bayard at Find a Grave
- The Political Graveyard
- Time magazine October 13, 1952, via Internet Archive