A. Homer Byington
Aaron Homer Byington (July 23, 1826 – December 29, 1910) was the U.S. Consul in Naples from 1897 to 1907. He was a newspaper publisher and editor. He also represented Norwalk in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1858 to 1860, and was a member of the Connecticut Senate representing the 12th District from 1861 to 1863.
Aaron Homer Byington | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Connecticut Senate from the 12th District | |
| In office 1861–1863[1] | |
| Preceded by | Julius Curtis |
| Succeeded by | Morgan Morgans |
| Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from Norwalk | |
| In office 1858–1860 Serving with Daniel K. Nash, William T. Craw | |
| Preceded by | Josiah Carter, William T. Craw |
| Succeeded by | William T. Craw, Samuel E. Olmstead |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 26, 1826[2] Herkimer, New York[2] |
| Died | December 29, 1910 (aged 84)[2][3] Flushing, Queens, New York[2] |
| Resting place | Riverside Cemetery, Norwalk, Connecticut |
| Political party | Republican,[3] Union Party |
| Spouse | Harriet Sophia Richmond (m. November 8, 1849)[2] |
| Children | William Homer Byington, George Richmond Byington, and Stuart Woodford Byington, Henry Sumpter Byington (d. 1887), Harriet Eloise Byington (d. in infancy)[2] |
| Residence(s) | Norwalk, Connecticut |
| Alma mater | Amos Smith Collegiate School[2] |
| Occupation | Newspaper editor[3][4] |
He was born in Herkimer, New York, on July 23, 1826, to Aaron Byington and Sarah Waterbury.[2]
Career
Upon completion of his studies, he worked in a minor position at the Norwalk Gazette.[2] When the New Haven Morning Chronicle began publication with Thomas G. Woodward as editor, Byington became business manager.[2] He remained in this capacity until 1848, when he bought the Norwalk Gazette.[2] In the Gazette, Byington editorialized for giving blacks the vote, a distinctly minority position at the time.[4]
At the outbreak of the American Civil War, and before regiments of Northern troops had arrived to defend Washington, there was a report of a plot to burn the capital. On April 18, 1861, this report mobilized loyal citizens, including Byington, and former congressman Orris S. Ferry, also of Norwalk to form a militia. This militia was led by Cassius Marcellus Clay, and came to be known as the Cassius Clay Guard.[4]
During the war, Byington worked as a lobbyist for Connecticut's arms manufacturers.[4] Byington was a raconteur who eventually got to know Abraham Lincoln and swapped tall tales and jokes with him.[4]
After the war Byington co-founded the New York Sun, along with Edmund C. Stedman and Charles A. Dana.[2]
He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention from Connecticut in 1868 and an alternate in 1880.[3]
In 1897, he suspended operations of the Norwalk Gazette when he was appointed by President William McKinley United States Consul in Naples. He served until 1907.[3]
Byington died on December 29, 1910, in Flushing, New York.[2]