United States Senator from New Jersey

The first Republican ever nominated as the Vice Presidential Candidate of the United States!

Attorney General of New Jersey

Appointed by President Lincoln as U.S. Minister to France during the Civil War

(1807-1864) Born in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. He graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1825, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1830, and became an attorney in Freehold. In 1838, he was appointed an associate judge of the New Jersey Supreme Court. Served as a Whig U.S. Senator, from 1842-1851. Dayton was selected by the newly formed Republican Party as their first nominee for Vice President of the United States over Abraham Lincoln at the Philadelphia Convention. He and his running mate, John C. Fremont, lost to the Democratic ticket of James Buchanan and John C. Breckenridge. He then served as New Jersey Attorney General from 1857-1861, when President Lincoln appointed him to the important position of Minister to France. He served from May 1861 until his death in December 1864. While serving in France, Dayton was the leader of a successful team that prevented the French government of Napoleon III from recognizing the independence of the Confederate States of America, or allowing the Confederacy to use any French ports. He died in 1864, while at his post in Paris, and was buried in Riverview Cemetery, Trenton, New Jersey.

Signature: 5 1/2 x 1, in ink, Wm. L. Dayton. Very nice, large bold autograph. Desirable American politician.