Preceded by Pierce Butler Succeeded by William Harper Preceded by Andrew Gregg | Preceded by Joseph B. Varnum Role Former U.S. senator Preceded by James Barbour Name John Gaillard Resigned February 26, 1826 | |
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Born September 5, 1765
Province of South Carolina ( 1765-09-05 ) Died February 26, 1826, Washington, D.C., United States Party Democratic-Republican Party | ||
Political party Democratic-Republican Previous office Senator (SC) 1804–1826 | ||
John Gaillard | Wikipedia audio article
John Gaillard (September 5, 1765 – February 26, 1826) was a U.S. Senator from South Carolina.
Gaillard was born in St. Stephen's district, South Carolina, on September 5, 1765. He was of Huguenot descent. He was elected to the United States Senate in place of Pierce Butler, who resigned, and served from December 6, 1804 until his death in Washington, D.C. on February 26, 1826. During his tenure, Gaillard voted for the War of 1812. He served as President pro tempore of the Senate in the part of the 11th Congress and at least part of every Congress from the 13th to the 18th. He was also the "Acting Vice President", or next in line to the presidency, from November 25, 1814, two days after the death of Vice President Elbridge Gerry, to March 4, 1817.
In his memoir Thirty Years' View, Thomas H. Benton, one of Gaillard's contemporaries, described him thus:
Urbane in his manners, amiable in temper, scrupulously impartial, uniting absolute firmness of purpose with the greatest gentleness of manners—such were the qualifications which commended him to the presidency of the senate. There was probably not an instance of disorder or a disagreeable scene in the chamber during his long-continued presidency. He classed democratically, but was as much the favorite of one side of the house as of the other, and that in the high party times of the war with Great Britain, which so much exasperated party spirit.
Gaillard died in Washington D.C on 26 February 1826 and was interred in the Congressional Cemetery.