Career
Born in Derry, Ireland, Boyce read law to enter the bar in 1820. He began a private practice in Bayou Leche, Louisiana by 1824, and was then in Alexandria, Louisiana from 1824 to 1828. He was a planter in Rapides Parish, Louisiana from 1828, maintaining that occupation until his death in 1873.
He was a judge on the State Circuit Court of Louisiana from 1834 to 1839.
He was the United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana in 1849. On May 9, 1849, Boyce received a recess appointment from Zachary Taylor to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana created by 9 Statistics
401. Formally nominated on December 21, 1849, Boyce was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 2, 1850, and received his commission the same day.
Boyce"s served in that capacity until his resignation from the bench on February 19, 1861. However, the United States. Senate refused to seat Boyce.
Boyce was among the survivors of the steamboat Lioness explosion that occurred on the Red River south of Natchitoches on May 19, 1833. Irene died when she was 22 years old.
Boyce subsequently married Octavia Delaney Mullanphy of Saint Louis, with whom he had one child Mary Boyce.
The town of Boyce, Louisiana, adjacent to his plantation Ulster, was named for him. He died at his plantation in Boyce, Louisiana.