Speech of Mr. Lynn Boyd, of Kentucky, in reply to the Hon. John White
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Lynn Boyd was an American lawyer and congressman. He is remembered for his service as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1851 to 1855. Boyd was also serving at the House as a Democrat from Kentucky from 1835 to 1837.
Background
Lynn Boyd was born on November 22, 1800. He was of Scot descent, his ancestors settling early in Virginia. His grandfather, James Boyd, moved to South Carolina, served in the Revolution there, and lost heavily at the hands of the British troops.
His father, Abraham Boyd, who also fought in the Revolution, fell in early with the migration to Tennessee, crossing the mountains in company with Andrew Jackson, and settling at Nashville, where Lynn was born.
Education
In 1803, Boyd removed to a farm in Christian County, Kentucky, where Lynn grew up as an ordinary laborer, working hard and getting little schooling.
Career
When only nineteen years old, the youth was appointed to assist in securing from the Chickasaw Indians the Kentucky lands west of the Tennessee River, thereafter known as the Jackson Purchase on account of Andrew Jackson's connection with the mission.
In 1826, he moved into the Purchase, settled on a farm in Calloway County, and the next year secured an election to the legislature to represent the four counties constituting the Purchase at that time. He always maintained a keen interest in this particular part of Kentucky and was looked upon by the people there as a special patron.
In 1828 and 1829, he was returned from Calloway County as a representative at Frankfort at the same time that his father was representing Trigg County, and in 1831, Lynn, having returned to Trigg County was elected as its representative. Boyd had a degree of ambition which did not let him rest contented with merely state honors.
In 1833, he ran for Congress from the first district and was defeated by his Whig opponent, but in 1835, he won, only to lose again in 1837. Determined to be in Congress, he ran again in 1839, was elected, and continuously thereafter until 1855, he represented the first district at Washington, so strongly entrenching himself in the affections of the people that at times he was elected without opposition.
In 1856, he was Kentucky's favorite son for the vice-presidency. During the last four years of his congressional career (1851 - 55), he was speaker of the House. In 1855, he returned to Kentucky but soon developed a desire to enter the United States Senate.
As a step in this direction, he sought the governorship in 1859. He received nothing better than the lieutenant-governorship, which he accepted but which he did not live to fill.
Boyd died in Paducah on December 17, 1859. He was buried at Paducah's Oak Grove Cemetery.
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Politics
Boyd was a staunch supporter of Andrew Jackson and always remained a loyal Democrat. He stood squarely behind Jackson in opposition to the United States Bank. In return for this loyalty and out of sentiment for Boyd's father, Jackson steadily lent his influence to the advancement of the son.
Personality
Boyd was the popular idol of western Kentucky; traditions of his manly vigor and handsome figure are still handed down.
Connections
Lynn Boyd was married twice, first in 1832 to Alice C. Bennett of Trigg County, and then in 1850, to Mrs. Anna L. Dixon of Pennsylvania, a relative of President Fillmore.