Theodorus Bailey

Theodorus Bailey

Theodorus Bailey (born  October 12, 1758 in Fishkill , Dutchess County , Province of New York , †  September 6, 1828 in New York City ) was an American politician ( Democratic Republican Party ) who represented the state of New York in both chambers of the Congress represented.

The young Theodorus Bailey first attended village school and later studied law , after which he was admitted to the bar in 1778 and began to practice in Poughkeepsie . During the Revolutionary War he served in the New York Militia ; after the end of the war he was a member of the state militia from 1786 to 1805, where he was promoted to brigadier general.

In 1792 Bailey was elected to the House of Representatives of the United States , where he was part of the anti-administration faction critical of the government before the founding of the first parties. In his second term, which began on March 4, 1795, he then joined the Democratic Republicans of Thomas Jefferson and initially remained in Congress until March 3, 1797; two more years as an MP followed between 1799 and 1801. In April 1801 he won the election for a seat in the New York State Assembly ; but before the House of Representatives met for the constituent session, Bailey was elected to succeed the resigned Congressman Thomas Tillotson and moved back to the House of Representatives in Washington, DC on December 7 of the same year . On March 3, 1803, he left there for the last time.

The next day, Bailey took his seat in the United States Senate after the New York legislature elected him to succeed federalist Governor Morris . Originally nominated by the Democratic Republican faction in the State Assembly , John Woodworth was defeated by two votes after Matthias Burnett Tallmadge , member of the State Senate and Bailey's brother-in-law, had convinced the members of the Federalist Party to vote for Bailey; together with the smaller part of the Democratic Republicans , who were against Woodworth, this was enough for a narrow victory.

Ultimately, Theodorus Bailey spent less than a year in the Senate. He resigned from office on January 16, 1804 to become New York City Postmaster. He held this post until his death on September 6, 1828.

Web links

• Theodorus Bailey in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)

• Theodorus Bailey in the database of Find a Grave (English)