William D. Bynum
Encyclopedia
William Dallas Bynum was a U.S. Representative
from Indiana
.
Bynum was born near Newberry, Indiana
. Although he lived for some time in Washington D.C., he was a lifelong Hoosier
. He was educated in the state's schools, graduated from Indiana University, studied and practiced law there, started his political career in Washington, Indiana
, and, after his service in the other Washington, returned to Indiana. There, he lived out the remainder of his days.
After graduation from Indiana University in 1869, Bynum studied law. He was admitted to the bar
in 1872, hung out a shingle, and set up practice in Washington, Indiana.
He was the town's first City Clerk. He was City Attorney from 1871 until 1875, and Mayor from 1876 until 1879.
In 1880, he moved from Daviess County
to Indianapolis
. He was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives
from 1881 until 1885, serving as House Speaker in 1885.
Bynum was elected as a Democrat
to the Forty-ninth
and to the four succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1885-March 3, 1895). For part of that time he was House Minority Whip
.
On May 17, 1890, Bynum was censured by the House of Representatives for the use of unparliamentary language.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1894 to the Fifty-fourth
Congress.
Remaining in the nation's capital, Bynum was active in the organization of the National (Gold-Standard) Democratic Party
, in 1896. He chaired its national committee through 1898.
In 1900, Bynum was appointed by President McKinley
to be a member of a commission to codify the United States' criminal laws. He served on the commission until 1906.
He then returned to Indiana and retired from the practice of law.
He died in Indianapolis on October 21, 1927 and was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery, in Washington, Indiana.
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...
from Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
.
Bynum was born near Newberry, Indiana
Newberry, Indiana
Newberry is a town in Cass Township, Greene County, Indiana, United States. The population was 193 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Bloomington, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Newberry is located at ....
. Although he lived for some time in Washington D.C., he was a lifelong Hoosier
Hoosier
Hoosier is the official demonym for a resident of the U.S. state of Indiana. Although residents of most U.S. states typically adopt a derivative of the state name, e.g., "Indianan" or "Indianian", natives of Indiana rarely use these. Indiana adopted the nickname "Hoosier State" more than 150...
. He was educated in the state's schools, graduated from Indiana University, studied and practiced law there, started his political career in Washington, Indiana
Washington, Indiana
Washington is a city in Daviess County, Indiana, United States. The population was 11,509 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Daviess County.-History:...
, and, after his service in the other Washington, returned to Indiana. There, he lived out the remainder of his days.
After graduation from Indiana University in 1869, Bynum studied law. He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1872, hung out a shingle, and set up practice in Washington, Indiana.
He was the town's first City Clerk. He was City Attorney from 1871 until 1875, and Mayor from 1876 until 1879.
In 1880, he moved from Daviess County
Daviess County, Indiana
Daviess County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 31,648. The county seat is Washington. Daviess County switched to the Central Time Zone on April 2, 2006. It has returned to the Eastern Time Zone as of November 4, 2007.- History :Daviess County was...
to Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. He was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives
Indiana House of Representatives
The Indiana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The House is composed of 100 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. House members serve two-year terms without term limits...
from 1881 until 1885, serving as House Speaker in 1885.
Bynum was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Forty-ninth
49th United States Congress
The Forty-ninth 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 in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1885 to March 4, 1887, during the first two years...
and to the four succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1885-March 3, 1895). For part of that time he was House Minority Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
.
On May 17, 1890, Bynum was censured by the House of Representatives for the use of unparliamentary language.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1894 to the Fifty-fourth
54th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :-Leadership:- Senate :* President: Adlai E. Stevenson * President pro tempore: William P. Frye - Majority leadership :* Republican Conference Chairman: John Sherman- Minority leadership :...
Congress.
Remaining in the nation's capital, Bynum was active in the organization of the National (Gold-Standard) Democratic Party
National Democratic Party (United States)
The National Democratic Party or Gold Democrats was a short-lived political party of Bourbon Democrats, who opposed the regular party nominee William Jennings Bryan in 1896. Most members were admirers of Grover Cleveland. They considered Bryan a dangerous man and charged that his "free silver"...
, in 1896. He chaired its national committee through 1898.
In 1900, Bynum was appointed by President McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
to be a member of a commission to codify the United States' criminal laws. He served on the commission until 1906.
He then returned to Indiana and retired from the practice of law.
He died in Indianapolis on October 21, 1927 and was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery, in Washington, Indiana.
External links
- William D. Bynum at Find-A-Grave