BAYARD, Samuel, jurist, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 11 January 1767; died in Princeton, New Jersey, 12 May 1840. He was the fourth son of Colonel John Bayard, and was graduated at Princeton in 1784, delivering the valedictory oration. He studied law with William Bradford, whose law-partner he became, and practiced for seven years in Philadelphia. In 1791 he was appointed clerk of the United States Supreme Court. After the ratification of Jay's treaty with Great Britain, signed 19 November 1794, he was appointed by Washington agent of the United States to prosecute American claims before the British admiralty courts, and in that capacity he lived in London four years. After his return he resided several years at New Rochelle, New York, and while there was appointed by Governor Jay presiding judge of Westchester County In 1803 he removed to New York City, and resumed the practice of law. He was one of the founders of the New York historical society, organized in 1804. In 1806 he purchased an estate at Princeton, New Jersey For several years he was a member of the New Jersey legislature, and for a long period presiding judge of the court of common pleas of Somerset County He was interested in religious enterprises, was one of the founders of Princeton theological seminary, and joined with Elias Boudinot in establishing the American Bible society and the New Jersey Bible society. In 1814 he was nominated by the federalists for congress, but was defeated. He published a funeral oration on General Washington (New Brunswick, 1800); "A Digest of American Cases on the Law of Evidence, intended as Notes to Peake's Compendium" (Philadelphia, 1810); "An Abstract of the Laws of the United States which relate to the Duties and Authority of Judges of Inferior State Courts and Justices of the Peace" (New York, 1834); and "Letters on the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper" (Philadelphia, 1825; 2d ed., 1840). See " Samuel Bayard and his London Diary, 1791-'4," by General Jas. Grant Wilson (Newark, 1885).