Jonathan Dayton

Jonathan Dayton
3rd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
In office December 7, 1795 – March 3, 1799
Preceded by	Frederick Muhlenberg
Succeeded by	Theodore Sedgwick
United States Senator from New Jersey
In office March 4, 1799 – March 3, 1805
Preceded by	Richard Stockton
Succeeded by	Aaron Kitchell
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's at-large district
In office March 4, 1791 – March 3, 1799
Preceded by	James Schureman Elias Boudinot
Succeeded by	Mark Thomson John Condit
Delegate from New Jersey to the Congress of the Confederation
In office 1787–1788
Personal details
Born	(1760-10-16)October 16, 1760 Elizabethtown, Province of New Jersey, British America
Died	October 9, 1824(1824-10-09) (aged 63) Elizabethtown, New Jersey, U.S.
Political party	Federalist
Other political affiliations	Pro-Administration
Spouse	Susan Williamson
Parent	Elias Dayton (father)
Relatives	George Dayton (great-grandson)
Alma mater	College of New Jersey
Profession	Lawyer
Signature

Jonathan Dayton (October 16, 1760 – October 9, 1824) was an American Founding Father and politician from New Jersey. At 26, he was the youngest person to sign the Constitution of the United States. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1791 and later served from 1795 to 1799 as its third Speaker. He left the House in 1799 after being elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served one term. Dayton was arrested in 1807 for alleged treason in connection with Aaron Burr's conspiracy to establish an independent country in the Southwestern United States and parts of Mexico. He was exonerated by a grand jury,^[1] but his national political career never recovered.