Alexis I. du Pont Bayard
Encyclopedia
Alexis Irénée du Pont "Lex" Bayard (February 11, 1918 - September 3, 1985) was an American lawyer and politician from Rockland, near Greenville, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a veteran of World War II, and a member of the Democratic Party, who served as the 13th Lieutenant Governor of Delaware
.
and Elizabeth Bradford du Pont Bayard. He was named after his maternal great-grandfather, Alexis Irénée du Pont. He married Jane Brady Hildreth on April 24, 1944, and they had three children; Alexis du Pont, Jr., Eugene Hildreth, and Richard Henry. During World War II, he served in the United States Marine Corps. Bayard had studied the law, and upon returning, began a practice in Wilmington, Delaware.
Bayard was the scion of two prominent Delaware families. On his father’s side, Alexis descended from the politically powerful Bayard family. The Bayard’s had long been bulwarks of Delaware’s Democratic Party, with each of the previous five generations of the Bayard family having represented Delaware in the United States Senate.
Bayard’s mother, Elizabeth Bradford du Pont, was the daughter of Alexis Irénée du Pont, Jr., granddaughter of Alexis Irénée du Pont, and great-grand daughter of Eleuthère Irénée du Pont
. He was the founder of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
, the gunpowder and chemicals company that grew to dominate northern Delaware in the early twentieth century. By this time the du Pont’s were a large and enormously wealthy family, many of whom were involved in the political life of Delaware.
, 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. Bayard’s inexperience and aristocratic roots compared unfavorably 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 Republican's 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 and remained an active supporter of the Democratic Party.
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.
{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
|-bgcolor=#cccccc
!colspan=7 style="background: #ccccff;" |Public Offices
|-
! Office
! Type
! Location
! Began office
! Ended office
! notes
|-
|Lt. Governor
|Executive
|Dover
|January 20, 1949
|January 15, 1953
|
{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
|-bgcolor=#cccccc
!colspan=12 style="background: #ccccff;" |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%
Lieutenant Governor of Delaware
The Lieutenant Governor of Delaware is the second ranking executive officer of the U.S. state of Delaware. Lieutenant Governors are elected for a term of four years in the same general election as the U.S. President and take office the following January....
.
Early Life and family
Bayard was born in Wilmington, Delaware, son of U.S. Senator Thomas F. Bayard, Jr.Thomas F. Bayard, Jr.
Thomas Francis Bayard, Jr. 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:...
and Elizabeth Bradford du Pont Bayard. He was named after his maternal great-grandfather, Alexis Irénée du Pont. He married Jane Brady Hildreth on April 24, 1944, and they had three children; Alexis du Pont, Jr., Eugene Hildreth, and Richard Henry. During World War II, he served in the United States Marine Corps. Bayard had studied the law, and upon returning, began a practice in Wilmington, Delaware.
Bayard was the scion of two prominent Delaware families. On his father’s side, Alexis descended from the politically powerful Bayard family. The Bayard’s had long been bulwarks of Delaware’s Democratic Party, with each of the previous five generations of the Bayard family having represented Delaware in the United States Senate.
Bayard’s mother, Elizabeth Bradford du Pont, was the daughter of Alexis Irénée du Pont, Jr., granddaughter of Alexis Irénée du Pont, and great-grand daughter of Eleuthère Irénée du Pont
Eleuthère Irénée du Pont
Éleuthère Irénée du Pont de Nemours , known as Irénée du Pont, or E.I. du Pont, was a French-born Huguenot chemist and industrialist who immigrated to the United States in 1799 and founded the gunpowder manufacturer, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company...
. He was the founder of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
, the gunpowder and chemicals company that grew to dominate northern Delaware in the early twentieth century. By this time the du Pont’s were a large and enormously wealthy family, many of whom were involved in the political life of Delaware.
Political career
A war veteran with a well-known name, the 30 year old Bayard was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1948, defeating Republican Chester V. Townsend, Jr. of DagsboroDagsboro, Delaware
As of the census of 2000, there were 519 people, 226 households, and 141 families residing in the town. The population density was 409.5 people per square mile . There were 248 housing units at an average density of 195.7 per square mile . The racial makeup of the town was 92.29% White, 6.36%...
, 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
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 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. Bayard’s inexperience and aristocratic roots compared unfavorably 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 Republican's U.S. Presidential candidate, Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
, led the incumbent to a ten point victory over Bayard at the polls.
After his defeat by Williams, Bayard resumed his law practice and remained an active supporter of the Democratic Party.
Death and legacy
Bayard died in Wilmington and is buried there at the Old Swedes Episcopal Church Cemetery, alongside his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Old Swedes Church is the oldest church building in the United States, still standing as originally built.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.{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
|-bgcolor=#cccccc
!colspan=7 style="background: #ccccff;" |Public Offices
|-
! Office
! Type
! Location
! Began office
! Ended office
! notes
|-
|Lt. Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Delaware
The Lieutenant Governor of Delaware is the second ranking executive officer of the U.S. state of Delaware. Lieutenant Governors are elected for a term of four years in the same general election as the U.S. President and take office the following January....
|Executive
Executive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
|Dover
Dover, Delaware
The city of Dover is the capital and second largest city in the U.S. state of Delaware. It is also the county seat of Kent County, and the principal city of the Dover, Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Kent County. It is located on the St. Jones River in the Delaware...
|January 20, 1949
|January 15, 1953
|
{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
|-bgcolor=#cccccc
!colspan=12 style="background: #ccccff;" |Election results
|-
!Year
!Office
!
!Subject
!Party
!Votes
!%
!
!Opponent
!Party
!Votes
!%
|-
|1948
|Lt. Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Delaware
The Lieutenant Governor of Delaware is the second ranking executive officer of the U.S. state of Delaware. Lieutenant Governors are elected for a term of four years in the same general election as the U.S. President and take office the following January....
|
| |Alexis I. du Pont Bayard
| |Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
| |74,605
| |53%
|
| |Chester V. Townsend, Jr.
| |Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
| |65,545
| |47%
|-
|1952
|U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
|
| |Alexis I. du Pont Bayard
| |Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
| |77,685
| |45%
|
| |John J. Williams
John J. Williams (senator)
John James "Whispering Willie" Williams was an American businessman and politician from Millsboro, in Sussex County, Delaware. He was a member of the Republican Party, who served four terms as U.S. Senator from Delaware....
| |Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
| |93,020
| |55%
External links
Places with more information
- Delaware Historical SocietyDelaware Historical SocietyThe Delaware Historical Society began in 1864 as an effort to preserve documents from the Civil War. Since then, it has expanded into a state-wide historical institution with several venues and a major museum in Wilmington and the historic Read House & Gardens in New Castle.The society...
; website; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; (302) 655-7161 - University of DelawareUniversity of DelawareThe university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
; Library website; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; (302) 831-2965