Alexis I. du Pont Bayard

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 member of the Democratic Party, who served as the 13th Lieutenant Governor of Delaware.[1]

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 Wilmington, Delaware
Died	September 3, 1985 (aged 67) Wilmington, Delaware
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Jane Brady Hildreth
Children	Alexis du Pont Bayard, Jr. Eugene Hildreth Bayard Richard Henry Bayard
Parents	Thomas F. Bayard, Jr. Elizabeth Bradford du Pont
Residence	Greenville, Delaware
Profession	lawyer
Military service
Branch/service	United States Marine Corps

Early life

Bayard was born in Wilmington, Delaware, son of U.S. Senator Thomas F. Bayard, Jr. and Elizabeth Bradford du Pont Bayard. He was named after his maternal great-grandfather, Alexis Irénée du Pont. 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 Ponts were a large and enormously wealthy family, many of whom were involved in the political life of Delaware.

During the World War II era, he served in the United States Marine Corps. Bayard had studied the law, and upon returning, began a practice in Wilmington, Delaware.

Political career

A war era veteran with a well-known name, the 30-year-old Bayard was elected lieutenant governor in 1948,[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 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 and remained an active supporter of the Democratic Party. 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.

Personal life

He married Jane Brady Hildreth on April 24, 1944, and they had three children; Alexis du Pont, Jr., Eugene Hildreth, and Richard Henry.

Bayard died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 3, 1985, during heart-bypass surgery at Graduate Hospital.[1] He was buried at the Old Swedes Episcopal Church Cemetery in Wilmington, Delaware, alongside his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

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

1. "Alexis I. Du Pont Bayard, Lawyer And Political Leader". The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 5, 1985. Retrieved 2012-11-28. Alexis I. du Pont Bayard, 67, former lieutenant governor of Delaware and a member of the finance committee of the Democratic National Committee, died Tuesday during heart-bypass surgery at Graduate Hospital. A lawyer who was known as "Lex," he maintained a law office in Wilmington and homes in Wilmington and in Rehoboth Beach. He was a partner in Bayard, Bill & Handelman, a law firm that lists major corporations and national organizations among ...
2. Winslow, Helen L., Editor in Chief (1994). The Delaware Bar in the Twentieth Century. Wilmington, DE: The Delaware State Bar Association. p. 554.
3. Winslow, Helen L., Editor in Chief (1994). The Delaware Bar in the Twentieth Century. Wilmington, DE: The Delaware State Bar Association. pp. 554–55.
4. "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; [phone]
• University of Delaware; Library website; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; [phone]

External links

• Delaware's Lieutenant Governors
• Alexis I. du Pont Bayard at Find a Grave
• The Political Graveyard
• Time Magazine