Ralph Izard

This article is about the U.S. Congressman. For his son, who distinguished himself at the burning of thePhiladelphiaat Tripoli, seeRalph Izard (naval officer).

Not to be confused withRalph Izzard.

Ralph Izard
Ralph Izard, 1793, byJohn Trumbull
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
In office May 31, 1794 – November 9, 1794
Preceded by	John Langdon
Succeeded by	Henry Tazewell
United States Senator fromSouth Carolina
In office March 4, 1789 – March 4, 1795
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Jacob Read
Delegate from South Carolina to theCongress of the Confederation
In office November 4, 1782 – November 1, 1783
Personal details
Born	January 23, 1741 / 1742 nearCharleston,South Carolina
Died	May 30, 1804 (aged 62–63) nearCharleston, South Carolina
Political party	Pro-Administration
Spouse	Alice De Lancey Izard
Children	Henry Izard Ralph Izard George Izard Charlotte Izard
Alma mater	Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Profession	Planter
Signature

Ralph Izard(January 23, 1741/1742 – May 30, 1804) was an American politician who served aspresident pro tempore of the United States Senatein 1794.

Early life

Coat of Arms of Ralph Izard

Izard was born at "The Elms" nearCharleston, South Carolina.He was the son of Henry Izard and Margaret Johnson. His great-grandfather was Ralph Izard(1660–1710), who was born inDorchester,Englandand settled in South Carolina. His maternal grandfather wasProvince of South CarolinaGovernorRobert Johnson.Izard's parents died when he was a small child, and only one of his siblings survived to adulthood.

He spent most of his childhood and youth studying inEngland:he attended a school inHackney, London,and matriculated as a fellow-commoner atTrinity Hall, Cambridge.Izard returned to America in 1764, but did not remain in South Carolina for long.He was elected the American Society (later theAmerican Philosophical Society) in 1768.

Career

He resided inLondonin 1771 and moved toParis,France,in 1776. He was appointed commissioner to the Court ofTuscanyby theContinental Congressin 1776, but was recalled in 1779. He returned to America in 1780 and pledged his large estate inSouth Carolinafor the payment of war ships to be used in theAmerican Revolutionary War.He was a member of the Continental Congress in 1782 and 1783. In 1788, he was elected to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1789, to March 4, 1795, serving as President pro tempore of the Senate during theThird Congress.

Later life

Izard was one of the founders of theCollege of Charleston.Izard retired from public life to the care of his estates in 1795. Within two years of his retirement, he was stricken with an untreatable illness that paralyzed him on one side of his body.

Death and legacy

Alice De Lancey Izard,portrait byThomas Gainsborough

In 1767, Izard marriedAlice De Lancey,who was a niece ofJames DeLanceyand a descendant ofStephanus Van Cortlandtand Gertrude Schuyler. After Izard moved to America in 1780 to focus on his work towards the American Revolution, his family stayed in France until 1783 when they joined him in South Carolina. Izard and his wife had fourteen children together, but only seven survived past early childhood, including:

• Ralph Izardwas a naval hero ofTripoli.The World War IIUSSIzardwas named after him. In 1808, Izard married Eliza Pinckney, daughter of Major GeneralCharles Cotesworth Pinckney,a signer of the Constitution, and a granddaughter ofColonel Charles Pinckney,chief justice of South Carolina. Ralph's wife was also a niece ofArthur Middleton.
• Major GeneralGeorge Izardwas agovernorofArkansas.
• Anne Izard, who married William Allan Deas {1764-1863} with whom they had a son, the painter,Charles Deas.William's brother was Col. James Sutherland Deas {1784-1864} who was the father of CS GeneralZachariah Cantey Deas
• Charlotte Izard, who married William Loughton Smith, a son of S.C. Assemblyman Benjamin Smith; William L. Smith was also a brother-in-law of South Carolina CongressmanIsaac Motte.

Izard died near Charleston on May 30, 1804, at the age of sixty-two. He is interred in the churchyard ofSt. James Goose Creek Episcopal Church,near Charleston.

Izard was a slaveholder.

Descendants

A great-grandson of Ralph Izard wasCharles Manigault Morriswho was also a great-grandson ofLewis Morris.A cousin of Charles Manigault Morris was GeneralArthur Middleton Manigaultwho was descended from Mary Izard-cousin of Ralph Izard.

A cousin Sarah Izard marriedSouth CarolinaLoyalist GovernorLord William Campbell.A cousin twice removed was Elizabeth {Eliza} Izard who was a daughter-in-law ofCongressmanofSouth CarolinaThomas Pinckney.One niece Elizabeth Izard married Alexander Wright (1751–?), a son of LoyalistGovernorofGeorgiaJames Wright (governor).

• 
  Ralph and Alice Izard byJohn Singleton Copley
• 
  Governor George Izard
• 
  First LieutenantCharles Manigault Morris,CSN
• 
  General Arthur M. Manigault, CSA
• 
  Miniature of Elizabeth (Eliza) Izard [wife of Thomas Pinckey 1780-1842 son of GeneralThomas Pinckney) byEdward Greene Malbone

External links

• United States Congress."Ralph Izard (id: I000053)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.