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William Bynum | |
|---|---|
 Bynum, c. 1892 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIndiana's7th district | |
| In office March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1895 | |
| Preceded by | William E. English |
| Succeeded by | Charles L. Henry |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Dallas Bynum (1846-06-26)June 26, 1846 nearNewberry, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | October 21, 1927(1927-10-21) (aged 81) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Resting place | Oak Grove Cemetery in Washington, Indiana |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Indiana University, Bloomington (BA) |
William Dallas Bynum (June 26, 1846 – October 21, 1927) was an American lawyer and politician who served five consecutive terms as aU.S. Representative fromIndiana from 1885 to 1895.
Bynum was born nearNewberry, Indiana and graduated fromIndiana University in 1869, having studied the law. After graduating, he was admitted to the bar in 1872, and set up practice inWashington, Indiana, where he served as City Clerk, City Attorney, and Mayor. In 1882, he was elected as a state representative.[1] Following his time in theIndiana House of Representatives, he spent years inWashington, D.C. as a member ofCongress, chairman of theNational Democratic Party, andPresident McKinley's commission to codify American criminal law. In his later years, he returned toIndiana and died of acutemyocarditis in 1927.[2]
He was Washington's first City Clerk. He was City Attorney from 1871 until 1875, and Mayor from 1876 until 1879.[3]
In 1882, he was elected as a member of theIndiana House of Representatives fromDaviess County, serving as House Speaker in 1885. He briefly practiced law in Indianapolis before being elected to Congress.[4]
Bynum was elected as aDemocrat to theForty-ninth and to the four succeedingCongresses (March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1895). For part of that time he was House MinorityWhip.
In 1890, Bynum denounced congressmanJames Campbell as a "liar and a perjurer" after congressman Campbell was accused of forgery.[5]HouseRepublicans censured Bynum for using "unparliamentary language" in a vote along party lines.[6] Bynum received the full support of House Democrats: as he received his punishment, the Democratic side stood up in support of Bynum.[7] As of 2024, Bynum is one of only 25 members of the House that have been censured.[8]
He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1894 to theFifty-fourth Congress.
Remaining in the nation's capital, Bynum was active in the organization of theNational (Gold-Standard) Democratic Party, in 1896. He chaired its national committee through 1898.
In 1900, Bynum was appointed byPresident 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.
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromBiographical Directory of the United States Congress.Federal government of the United States.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIndiana's 7th congressional district 1885–1895 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
