John Gaillard

John Gaillard (September 5, 1765 – February 26, 1826) was a U.S. Senator from South Carolina.

John Gaillard
United States senator
from South Carolina
In office
December 6, 1804  February 26, 1826
Preceded byPierce Butler
Succeeded byWilliam Harper
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
In office
January 25, 1820 December 4, 1825
Preceded byJames Barbour
Succeeded byNathaniel Macon
In office
November 25, 1814 January 5, 1819
Preceded byJoseph B. Varnum
Succeeded byJames Barbour
In office
February 28, 1810 December 11, 1810
Preceded byAndrew Gregg
Succeeded byJohn Pope
Personal details
Born(1765-09-05)September 5, 1765
Province of South Carolina
DiedFebruary 26, 1826(1826-02-26) (aged 60)
Washington, D.C.
Political partyDemocratic-Republican

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 during part of the 11th Congress and at least part of every Congress from the 13th to the 18th. He was also first in the presidential line of succession 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.

See also

  • United States Congress. "John Gaillard (id: G000005)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • Political Graveyard
U.S. Senate
Preceded by
Pierce Butler
U.S. senator (Class 3) from South Carolina
1804–1826
Served alongside: Thomas Sumter, John Taylor, William Smith, Robert Y. Hayne
Succeeded by
William Harper
Preceded by
Andrew Gregg
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
February 28, 1810 – December 11, 1810
Succeeded by
John Pope
Preceded by
Joseph Bradley Varnum
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
November 25, 1814 – January 5, 1819
Succeeded by
James Barbour
Preceded by
James Barbour
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
January 25, 1820 – December 4, 1825
Succeeded by
Nathaniel Macon


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