Floyd, William, 1734-1821

William Floyd (December 17, 1734 – August 4, 1821) was an American farmer and politician from New York, delegate to the Continental Congress, and a signer of the Continental Association and the United States Declaration of Independence. He is one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.

Born in Brookhaven, Province of New York, after his father's death in 1755, William took over the family farm. He became a member of the Suffolk County Militia in the early stages of the American Revolutionary War, becoming Major General. He was a delegate from New York in the First Continental Congress from 1774 to 1776, signing the Declaration of Independence during his tenure there. He was a member of the New York State Senate (Southern District) from 1777 to 1788. In March 1789, he was elected to the 1st United States Congress under the new Constitution as an Anti-Administration candidate and served until March 3, 1791. Floyd was a presidential elector in 1792, voting for George Washington and George Clinton. Floyd, for whom the town of Floyd, New York, is named, became a resident of Oneida County in 1794.

In 1795, Floyd ran for Lieutenant Governor of New York with Robert Yates on the Democratic-Republican ticket, but they were defeated by Federalists John Jay and Stephen Van Rensselaer. Floyd was again a presidential elector in 1800, voting for Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr; and in 1804, voting for Jefferson and George Clinton. Floyd was a member of the state senate (Western District) in 1808. In 1820, Floyd was chosen a presidential elector but did not attend the meeting of the electoral college, and Martin Van Buren was appointed to fill the vacancy. Floyd died on August 4, 1821, and is buried at the Westernville Cemetery in Oneida County.