Baylies, Francis, 1783-1852

Scholar, diplomat, politician, and historian.

From the description of Francis Baylies papers, 1814-1843. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 123540233

American politician, scholar, Congressman from Mass (1821-1827), author.

From the guide to the Francis Baylies letters, 1817, undated, (The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.)

Francis Baylies (1783-1852), scholar and statesman, was educated at the Bristol Academy in his hometown of Taunton, Mass. He studied law with his brother, William, and served as Register of Probate for Bristol County, Mass. from 1812 to 1820. He served in Congress from 1821 to 1827, and in the Massachusetts State House from 1827 to 1832 and again in 1835.

He was a student of southeastern Massachusetts, his best known work being _An Historical Memoir of the Colony of New Plymouth_ (1830; revised with important corrections, 1866). He wrote many pamphlets, and was a popular lecturer at lyceums, and Masonic, military, political, and agricultural meetings.

From the description of Papers, ca. 1814-ca. 1852. (American Antiquarian Society). WorldCat record id: 191259162

Massachusetts scholar, congressman, and statesman.

Elected to Congress in 1820, Baylies was the only New England representative to vote against John Quincy Adams in 1824 when the presidential election was decided by the House.

From the description of Letter : Washington, [D.C.], to Theophilus Parsons, Taunton, Mass., 1823 Dec. 16. (Newberry Library). WorldCat record id: 36209952

Biographical Note

• 1783, Oct. 16: Born, Taunton, Mass.
• 1810: Admitted to the bar and commenced law practice
• 1812 - 1820 : Served as register of probate, Bristol County, Mass.
• 1821: Elected as Federalist, Seventeenth Congress
• 1822: Married Mrs. Elizabeth Moulton Deming (died 1868)
• 1823: Elected as Jackson Federalist, Eighteenth Congress
• 1825: Elected as a Jacksonian, Nineteenth Congress
• 1827 - 1832 : Served as member of the Massachusetts house of representatives
• 1830: Published An Historical Memoir of the Colony of New Plymouth. . . Boston: Hilliard, Gray, Little, and Wilkins
• 1832: Served as U.S. Chargé d'Affaires to Argentina
• 1835: Elected to Massachusetts house of representatives
• 1852, Oct. 28: Died, Taunton, Mass.

From the guide to the Francis Baylies Papers, 1814-1843, (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)