Linn Boyd
Encyclopedia
Linn Boyd (also spelled "Lynn") was a prominent U.S.
politician of the 1840s and 1850s, and served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
from 1851 to 1855. Boyd was elected to the House as a Democrat from Kentucky
from 1835 to 1837 and again from 1839 to 1855, serving seven terms in the House. Boyd County, Kentucky
is named in his honor.
Boyd served in the Kentucky House of Representatives
after first winning election in 1827. He represented Calloway County
and his father represented neighboring Trigg County
. In 1831 Boyd moved to Trigg County and was elected to the House again from there.
In 1833 Boyd lost his first campaign for the United States House of Representatives
. In 1835 he was elected to the House and served there until 1837 when a Whig landslide cost him his seat. Boyd soon returned to the House, serving from 1839 through 1855. He was a strong supporter of President
Andrew Jackson
. Boyd played a key role in maneuvering the annexation of Texas
through Congress during the term of President John Tyler
in 1845. Boyd was also important in getting the Compromise of 1850
, chiefly credited to Henry Clay
, passed through Congress. Largely though his prominence in shepherding the Compromise of 1850
to passage, Boyd was elected Speaker of the House in 1851 and held that office until 1855.
Boyd got his party's nomination for Governor of Kentucky
in 1848, but had declined to run and was replaced by Lazarus W. Powell
. His name was also put forth as a candidate for Vice President of the United States
at the 1856 Democratic National Convention
, but was never officially nominated, the eventual nominee being fellow Kentuckian John C. Breckinridge
.
Boyd was elected the 16th Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
in 1859 but died shortly thereafter. This became significant with the onset of the Civil War
. Governor Beriah Magoffin
, supportive of slavery
, secession
and states' rights
, became increasingly unpopular and distrusted as Kentucky
sought to maintain a neutral course between the Union and the Confederate States of America
. Unionists held a two-thirds majority in both houses of the Kentucky General Assembly
in summer 1861 and frequently overrode Magoffin's vetos. By August 1862 Magoffin made it clear that he was willing to resign the governorship. However, due to Linn Boyd's death, the person next in line to become Governor of Kentucky
was Speaker of the Senate
John F. Fisk, who was unacceptable to Magoffin. Fisk resigned as Speaker and was replaced by James F. Robinson
. Magoffin resigned; Robinson became governor and Fisk was reinstalled as Speaker of the Senate
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician of the 1840s and 1850s, and served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
from 1851 to 1855. Boyd was elected to the House as a Democrat from Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
from 1835 to 1837 and again from 1839 to 1855, serving seven terms in the House. Boyd County, Kentucky
Boyd County, Kentucky
Boyd County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1860. Its are found at the northeastern edge of the state the near the Ohio River and Big Sandy River, nestled in the verdant rolling hills of Appalachia. The county seat is Catlettsburg. Its largest municipality is...
is named in his honor.
Boyd served in the Kentucky House of Representatives
Kentucky House of Representatives
The Kentucky House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kentucky General Assembly. It is composed of 100 Representatives elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. Not more than two counties can be joined to form a House district, except when necessary to preserve...
after first winning election in 1827. He represented Calloway County
Calloway County, Kentucky
Calloway County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1823. As of 2010, the population was 37,191. Its county seat is Murray, Kentucky. The county is named for Colonel Richard Callaway, one of the founders of Boonesborough...
and his father represented neighboring Trigg County
Trigg County, Kentucky
Trigg County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1820. As of 2000, the population was 12,597. Its county seat is Cadiz. The county is named for Stephen Trigg, a frontier officer in the American Revolutionary War who died in the Battle of Blue Licks...
. In 1831 Boyd moved to Trigg County and was elected to the House again from there.
In 1833 Boyd lost his first campaign for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. In 1835 he was elected to the House and served there until 1837 when a Whig landslide cost him his seat. Boyd soon returned to the House, serving from 1839 through 1855. He was a strong supporter of President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
. Boyd played a key role in maneuvering the annexation of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
through Congress during the term of President John Tyler
John Tyler
John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States . A native of Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before being elected Vice President . He was the first to succeed to the office of President following the death of a predecessor...
in 1845. Boyd was also important in getting the Compromise of 1850
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was a package of five bills, passed in September 1850, which defused a four-year confrontation between the slave states of the South and the free states of the North regarding the status of territories acquired during the Mexican-American War...
, chiefly credited to Henry Clay
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, Sr. , was a lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky separately in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives...
, passed through Congress. Largely though his prominence in shepherding the Compromise of 1850
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was a package of five bills, passed in September 1850, which defused a four-year confrontation between the slave states of the South and the free states of the North regarding the status of territories acquired during the Mexican-American War...
to passage, Boyd was elected Speaker of the House in 1851 and held that office until 1855.
Boyd got his party's nomination for Governor of Kentucky
Governor of Kentucky
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Fifty-six men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once...
in 1848, but had declined to run and was replaced by Lazarus W. Powell
Lazarus W. Powell
Lazarus Whitehead Powell was the 19th Governor of Kentucky, serving from 1851 to 1855. He was later elected to represent Kentucky in the U.S. Senate from 1859 to 1865....
. His name was also put forth as a candidate for Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
at the 1856 Democratic National Convention
1856 Democratic National Convention
The 1856 Democratic National Convention, held at Smith & Nixon's Hall in Cincinnati was the first national party nominating convention to be held outside the original thirteen states. Called to order at Noon on Monday June 2 by National Committee chair Robert McLane, Samuel Medary was made the...
, but was never officially nominated, the eventual nominee being fellow Kentuckian John C. Breckinridge
John C. Breckinridge
John Cabell Breckinridge was an American lawyer and politician. He served as a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Kentucky and was the 14th Vice President of the United States , to date the youngest vice president in U.S...
.
Boyd was elected the 16th Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
The office of lieutenant governor of Kentucky has existed under the last three of Kentucky's four constitutions, beginning in 1797. The lieutenant governor serves as governor of Kentucky under circumstances similar to the Vice President of the United States assuming the powers of the presidency...
in 1859 but died shortly thereafter. This became significant with the onset of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Governor Beriah Magoffin
Beriah Magoffin
Beriah Magoffin was the 21st Governor of Kentucky, serving during the early part of the Civil War. Personally, Magoffin adhered to a states' rights position, including the right of a state to secede from the Union, and he sympathized with the Confederate cause...
, supportive of slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
, secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
and states' rights
States' rights
States' rights in U.S. politics refers to political powers reserved for the U.S. state governments rather than the federal government. It is often considered a loaded term because of its use in opposition to federally mandated racial desegregation...
, became increasingly unpopular and distrusted as Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
sought to maintain a neutral course between the Union and the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
. Unionists held a two-thirds majority in both houses of the Kentucky General Assembly
Kentucky General Assembly
The Kentucky General Assembly, also called the Kentucky Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Kentucky.The General Assembly meets annually in the state capitol building in Frankfort, Kentucky, convening on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January...
in summer 1861 and frequently overrode Magoffin's vetos. By August 1862 Magoffin made it clear that he was willing to resign the governorship. However, due to Linn Boyd's death, the person next in line to become Governor of Kentucky
Governor of Kentucky
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Fifty-six men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once...
was Speaker of the Senate
Speaker of the Senate
Speaker of the Senate is a title given to the presiding officer of the Senate in a small number of jurisdictions and mainly amongst English-speaking countries.*The Speaker of the Canadian Senate presides over the Senate of Canada....
John F. Fisk, who was unacceptable to Magoffin. Fisk resigned as Speaker and was replaced by James F. Robinson
James F. Robinson
James Fisher Robinson was the 22nd Governor of Kentucky, serving the remainder of the unfinished term of Governor Beriah Magoffin. Magoffin, a Confederate sympathizer, became increasingly ineffective after the elections of 1861 yielded a supermajority to pro-Union forces in both houses of the...
. Magoffin resigned; Robinson became governor and Fisk was reinstalled as Speaker of the Senate
Speaker of the Senate
Speaker of the Senate is a title given to the presiding officer of the Senate in a small number of jurisdictions and mainly amongst English-speaking countries.*The Speaker of the Canadian Senate presides over the Senate of Canada....
.