William Baylies

For the physician, see William Baylies (physician).

William Baylies
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts
In office March 4, 1809 – June 28, 1809
Preceded by	Joseph Barker
Succeeded by	Charles Turner, Jr.
Constituency	7th district
In office March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1817
Preceded by	Charles Turner Jr.
Succeeded by	John W. Hulbert
Constituency	7th district (1813–15) 8th district (1815–17)
In office March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1835
Preceded by	Henry A. S. Dearborn
Succeeded by	Nathaniel B. Borden
Constituency	10th district
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office 1808–1809 1812–1813 1820–1821
Member of the Massachusetts Senate
In office 1825–1826 1830–1831
Personal details
Born	William Baylies September 15, 1776 Dighton, Massachusetts
Died	September 27, 1865(1865-09-27) (aged 89) Taunton, Massachusetts
Resting place	Dighton Town Cemetery Dighton, Massachusetts
Political party	Federalist Jackson Federalist National Republican
Relations	Francis Baylies
Alma mater	Brown University
Profession	Lawyer

William Baylies (September 15, 1776 – September 27, 1865) was an American lawyer and politician who served four non-consecutive terms as a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts in the early to mid-19th century.

He was the brother of congressman Francis Baylies. His great-grandfather was Thomas Baylies, an ironmaster from Coalbrookdale, England, who emigrated to Boston in 1737.

Biography

Baylies was born in Dighton, Massachusetts, in 1776, the son of Dr. William Baylies (1743–1826). He graduated from Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, in 1795 where he studied law.

Early career

He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Bridgewater (west parish) in 1799 and served as member of the State house of representatives in 1808, 1809, 1812, 1813, 1820, and 1821 and in the State Senate in 1825, 1826, 1830, and 1831.

He was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1814.

Contested election

Baylies was credentialed and seated in the 11th Congress, but the election was contested by his opponent Charles Turner Jr. Turner had won a majority of the ballots in the November 1808 election, but the Governor ruled that no one had received a majority because nearly 20% of Turner's votes had been cast for "Charles Turner" and the rest for "Charles Turner, Jr." The Governor called for a special election that Baylies won and he took the seat. But Turner successfully argued that the votes that omitted "Jr." were clearly intended for him. The special election was deemed void and on June 28 Baylies was deemed unentitled to the seat.

Congress

Baylies was then elected as a Federalist to the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Congresses (March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1817). He was elected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the Twenty-third Congress (March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1835).

Death and burial

He died in Taunton, Massachusetts, on September 27, 1865. Interment was in Dighton Town Cemetery, Dighton, Massachusetts.

References

• United States Congress. "William Baylies (id: B000256)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

External links

• William Baylies at Find a Grave

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress