Daniel Bailey Ryall

Daniel Bailey Ryall (January 30, 1798 – December 17, 1864) was an American Democratic Party politician and lawyer who represented New Jersey on a general ticket in the United States House of Representatives for one term from 1839 to 1841. His congressional service took place during a significant period in American history, and he participated in the democratic process by representing the interests of his New Jersey constituents at the national level.

Ryall was born on January 30, 1798, in Trenton, New Jersey. He completed his preparatory studies in his native city and attended the Trenton Academy, an important local institution that provided classical and advanced instruction to many future professionals and public officials in the region. His early education in Trenton laid the foundation for his subsequent legal and political career.

After completing his studies at Trenton Academy, Ryall pursued the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1820 and soon thereafter commenced the practice of law in Freehold Township, New Jersey. Establishing himself as an attorney in Freehold, he became part of the legal and civic life of Monmouth County, building a professional reputation that would support his entry into public office. His legal practice provided him with experience in the interpretation and application of state statutes and common law, skills that would later inform his legislative work.

Ryall entered public service as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly, where he served in 1831 and again from 1833 to 1835. During his later tenure in the Assembly, he was chosen by his colleagues to serve as speaker from 1833 to 1835, presiding over the lower house of the state legislature. In that role, he exercised significant influence over legislative procedure and the advancement of bills, helping to shape state policy during a period of political realignment and growing partisan organization in New Jersey and the nation.

Building on his state legislative experience, Ryall was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-sixth Congress, representing New Jersey on a general ticket. He served in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1839, to March 3, 1841. As a member of the Democratic Party representing New Jersey, he contributed to the legislative process during his single term in office. His service in Congress occurred at a time marked by debates over economic policy, including the legacy of the Bank of the United States and the financial dislocations following the Panic of 1837, as well as questions of federal power and states’ rights. In this context, Ryall participated in the work of the House and represented the concerns of his constituents in national deliberations.

After the completion of his term in Congress, Ryall returned to New Jersey and resumed the practice of law in Freehold. He continued to be a figure in local legal and civic affairs, maintaining his professional career rather than seeking further national office. His post-congressional years were spent in the community where he had long practiced, reflecting a pattern common among nineteenth-century legislators who alternated between public service and private professional life.

Daniel Bailey Ryall died in Freehold, New Jersey, on December 17, 1864. He was buried in Maplewood Cemetery in Freehold. His career encompassed service at both the state and national levels, including his tenure as speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly and his term in the United States House of Representatives, during which he took part in the legislative processes of a nation undergoing rapid political and economic change.