Ralph Izard

Ralph Izard
Ralph Izard 1793, by John Trumbull, American, 1756–1843
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
In office May 31, 1794 – November 9, 1794
Preceded by	John Langdon
Succeeded by	Henry Tazewell
United States Senator from South Carolina
In office March 4, 1789 – March 4, 1795
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Jacob Read
Delegate from South Carolina to the Congress of the Confederation
In office November 4, 1782 – November 1, 1783
Personal details
Born	January 23, 1741 / 1742 near Charleston, South Carolina
Died	May 30, 1804 (aged 62–63) near Charleston, South Carolina
Political party	Pro-Administration
Spouse(s)	Alice DeLancey
Children	Ralph Izard George Izard
Alma mater	Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Profession	Planter
Religion	Episcopalian
Signature

Ralph Izard (January 23, 1741/1742 – May 30, 1804) was a U.S. politician. He served as President pro tempore of the United States Senate in 1794.

Izard was born at "The Elms" near Charleston, South Carolina. He was the son of Henry Izard and Margaret Johnson. His great-grandfather was Ralph Izard (1660–1710), who was born in Dorchester, England and settled in South Carolina. His maternal grandfather was Province of South Carolina Governor Robert Johnson. Izard's parents died when he was a small child, and only one of his siblings survived to adulthood. He spent most of his childhood and youth studying in England: he attended a school in Hackney, London, and matriculated as a fellow-commoner at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Izard returned to America in 1764, but did not remain in South Carolina for long.

In 1767, Izard married his niece Alice De Lancey, who was a niece of James DeLancey and a descendant of Stephanus Van Cortlandt and Gertrude Schuyler. Izard and his wife had fourteen children together, but only seven survived past early childhood. His most notable children were George Izard and Ralph Izard (naval officer). After Izard moved to America in 1780 to focus on his work towards the American Revolution, his family stayed in France until 1783 when they joined him in South Carolina.

He resided in London in 1771 and moved to Paris, France, in 1776. He was appointed commissioner to the Court of Tuscany by the Continental Congress in 1776, but was recalled in 1779. He returned to America in 1780 and pledged his large estate in South Carolina for the payment of war ships to be used in the American Revolutionary War. He was a member of the Continental Congress in 1782 and 1783. In 1788, he was elected to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1789, to March 4, 1795, serving as President pro tempore of the Senate during the Third Congress.