Sempronius H. Boyd

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sempronius Hamilton Boyd
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 4th district
In office March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865 March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1871
Preceded by	Elijah H. Norton Joseph J. Gravely
Succeeded by	John R. Kelso Harrison E. Havens
Born	May 28, 1828 Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Died	June 22, 1894 Springfield, Missouri, USA
Political party	Unconditional Unionist, Republican
Profession	Politician, Lawyer, Judge, Teacher

Sempronius Hamilton Boyd (May 28, 1828 – June 22, 1894) was a nineteenth century politician, lawyer, judge and teacher from Missouri.

Born near Nashville, Tennessee, Boyd moved to a farm near Springfield, Missouri with his parents in 1840 where he was educated by private tutors. He moved to California in 1849 where he prospected for gold and taught school. He moved back to Missouri in 1854 where he was clerk of the court of Greene County, Missouri from 1854 to 1856, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1856, commencing practice in Springfield, Missouri. Boyd served as mayor of Springfield in 1856 and at the outbreak of the Civil War, raised the 24th Missouri Volunteer Infantry Regiment for the Union Army, serving as it's colonel from 1861 to 1863. He was elected an Unconditional Unionist to the United States House of Representatives in 1862, serving from 1863 to 1865. There, he served as chairman of the Committee on Revisal and Unfinished Business from 1863 to 1865. Boyd was a member of the Republican National Committee from 1864 to 1868, was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1864, was appointed judge of the court of the fourteenth judicial district in 1865 and was involved in building and operating the Southwest Pacific Railroad from 1867 to 1874. He was elected back to the House of Representatives as a Republican in 1868, serving again from 1869 to 1871. There, he served as chairman of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims from 1869 to 1871. Afterwards, Boyd operated a wagon factory from 1874 to 1876, resumed practicing law and was appointed United States Ambassador and Consul General to Siam by President Benjamin Harrison in 1890, serving until 1892. He died in Springfield, Missouri on June 22, 1894 and was interned in Hazelwood Cemetery in Springfield.

[edit] External links

• Sempronius H. Boyd at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved on 2008-02-14
• Sempronius H. Boyd at Find A Grave Retrieved on 2008-02-14

Preceded by Elijah H. Norton	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 4th congressional district March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865	Succeeded by John R. Kelso
Preceded by Joseph J. Gravely	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 4th congressional district March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1871	Succeeded by Harrison E. Havens
Preceded by Jacob T. Child	United States Ambassador to Siam October 1, 1890 – June 13, 1892	Succeeded by John Barrett