Theodorus Bailey was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 lawyer and politician from Poughkeepsie, New York

Poughkeepsie (city), New York

Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...

. He represented New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

 in both the U.S. House

United States House of Representatives

The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...

 and Senate

United States Senate

The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...

. Served in the New York Militia during the American Revolution

American Revolution

The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...

 and postwar in the State Militia 1786-1805.

Bailey was born near Fishkill, New York

Fishkill, New York

Fishkill is an upscale village within the much larger town, Town of Fishkill, one of the fastest growing towns in the region, in Dutchess County, New York, USA. The village population was 1,735 at the 2000 census...

 on October 12, 1758 where he attended the rural schools and studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1778 and commenced practice in Poughkeepsie, New York. He served with the New York Militia during the Revolutionary War. He also served in the State militia from 1786 until 1805 and attained the rank of Brigadier General

Brigadier General

Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...

Bailey ran for Congress in March 1789

United States House of Representatives elections in New York, 1789

The 1789 United States House of Representatives elections in New York were held on March 3 and 4, 1789, to elect 6 U.S. Representatives to represent the State of New York in the 1st United States Congress.-Background:...

, but was defeated by Federalist Egbert Benson

Egbert Benson

Egbert Benson was a lawyer, jurist, politician from Upper Red Hook, New York, and a Founding Father of the United States who represented New York in the Continental Congress, Annapolis Convention, and the United States House of Representatives, and who served as a member of the New York State...

. Bailey was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 3rd

3rd United States Congress

The Third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives...

 and the 4th United States Congress

4th United States Congress

-House of Representatives:- Senate :* President: John Adams * President pro tempore:** Henry Tazewell , first elected December 7, 1795** Samuel Livermore , first elected May 6, 1796** William Bingham , first elected February 16, 1797...

es, serving from March 4, 1793, to March 4, 1797. He was elected again to the 6th United States Congress

6th United States Congress

The Sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met at Congress Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1799...

, serving from March 4, 1799, to March 4, 1801. In April 1801, he was elected to the New York State Assembly

New York State Assembly

The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...

, but vacated his seat before the State Legislature convened, because he was elected to the 7th United States Congress

7th United States Congress

- House of Representatives :-Senate:* President: Aaron Burr * President pro tempore:** Abraham Baldwin , first elected December 7, 1801** Stephen R. Bradley , first elected December 14, 1802-House of Representatives:...

 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Thomas Tillotson

Thomas Tillotson

Thomas Tillotson was an American physician and politician.-Life:He received a thorough education, studied medicine, and practiced. During the American Revolutionary War, he was commissioned First lieutenant in the Maryland Militia in 1776...

, and served from December 7, 1801, to March 4, 1803.

In 1803

United States Senate election in New York, 1803

The 1803 United States Senate election in New York was held on February 1, 1803, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator to represent the State of New York in the United States Senate.-Background:...

, Bailey was elected a U.S. Senator from New York, and served from March 4, 1803, to January 16, 1804, when he resigned to accept the position of Postmaster

Postmaster

A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...

 of New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

, which he held until his death on September 6, 1828. He was interred in the Dutch Burying Ground and reinterred in the Rural Cemetery, Poughkeepsie, New York on January 8, 1864.

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