John Gaillard was the United States senator. He was elected to the United States Senate in 1806 and served continuously until his death.
Background
John Gaillard was born on September 5, 1765, in St. Stephen’s Parish, South Carolina, where his father had a large property in lands and slaves.
His father, John Gaillard, was descended from one of the Huguenot immigrants to South Carolina of about 1685. His mother was Judith Peyre.
Education
With his brother Theodore, Gaillard was admitted to the Middle Temple, London, July 15, 1782, but he never practiced law.
Career
From St. Stephen’s he was elected in 1794 to the state House of Representatives, and in 1796 to the Senate, where he served until December 1804. He was faithful in attendance and conservative in his votes. He was second on the ticket of Jefferson electors in 1804, and president of the Senate.
Elected to the United States Senate to fill the unexpired term of Pierce Butler, he took his seat on January 31, 1805, having received 105 of the 134 votes cast. He was elected for the regular term in 1806 and served continuously until his death.
He developed almost as firm a hold upon the Senate as upon his state, for from 1814, until his death, he was almost without exception the choice of the body for president pro tempore. He spent most of this time in the chair, due to the death in office of two vice-presidents, Clinton and Gerry, and the frequent absence of a third, Tompkins.
He was several times thanked by the Senate for this service. Senators Benton and Macon praised highly his skill, firmness, and tact in the performance of his duties, and paid tribute to the gentleness and polish of his manners.
After several years of ill health, during which he continued at his post, he died in Washington, and was buried in the Congressional Cemetery.
Achievements
Politics
In the Senate, Gaillard was a conservative Republican. He supported the administration in Jefferson’s second term save in the impeachment of Judge Samuel Chase, for whom he voted on all articles.
He opposed the bill to re-charter the first United States Bank as well as all moves to establish the second and objected to federal aid for internal improvements. He voted for the war in 1812 and supported the bills in the interest of slavery.
He also voted for the tariff of 1816, although he considered the rates too high; the later tariffs with their increases of duties he consistently opposed.
Connections
Gaillard married Mary Lord, daughter of Andrew Lord, November 24, 1792, and established himself in St. Stephen’s as a planter. His wife and an infant child were drowned in 1799, but a son Theodore survived by whom he had descendants. He never married again.