IZARD, Ralph, American statesman: b. near Charleston, S. C., 1742; d. South Bay, near Charleston, 30 May 1804. He was educated at Christ's College, Cambridge, England, and, in heriting an ample fortune, established himself in 1771 with his family in London, whence the troubled condition of American politics induced him in 1774 to retire to the Continent where he traveled extensively. He subsequently endeav ored to impress upon the British ministry the ill-advised nature of the course they were pur suing, but without effect. Although appointed in 1776 by the Continental Congress, United States Commissioner at the court of the grand duke of Tuscany, he continued to reside in Paris and played a prominent part in the differ ences existing between the American commis sioners in France. In 1780 he returned to the United States, and found occasion to serve the country in various ways, having been instru mental in procuring the appointment of Gen eral Greene to the command of the southern army, and having once pledged his whole estate as security for funds needed in the purchase of ships of war in Europe. In 1782 he entered
the Continental Congress, of which he remained a member until the peace; and upon the adop tion of the Federal constitution he was elected a United States Senator from South Carolina, serving until 1795. As a legislator he was able, but not particularly eloquent and' in the Senate possessed the confidence of all parties. The 'Correspondence of Ralph Izard from 1774 to 1804, with a Short Memoir,' was published by his daughter (New York 1844). He also wrote 'An Account of a Journey to Niagara, Montreal and Quebec in 1765' (New York 1846). Con sult Manigault, G. E., 'Ralph Izard, the South Carolina Statesman' (in Magazine of American History, Vol. XXIII, p. 60, New York 1890).