Abraham Baily (September 5, 1760 – August 13, 1825) was an American politician and physician from Pennsylvania. He served in the

Pennsylvania House of Representatives The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two-year terms from single member districts. It ...

, representing

Chester County Chester County may refer to: * Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States ** Chester County Council, boy scout council in Pennsylvania. * Chester County, South Carolina, United States * Chester County, Tennessee, United States * Cheshire ...

from 1808 to 1813. He also served in the

Pennsylvania Senate The Pennsylvania State Senate is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mi ...

from 1814 to 1818.

Early life

Abraham Baily was born on September 5, 1760, in

West Bradford Township, Pennsylvania West Bradford Township is a township that is located in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 14,706 at the time of the 2020 census. History There are three federal historic districts, Marshallton, Trimbleville, an ...

, to Elizabeth (née Marshall) and Joel Baily. His father was a clockmaker. Baily received an education through teachers employed by his family. He studied medicine with his cousin Moses Marshall under Dr. Nicholas Way of

Wilmington, Delaware Wilmington is the List of municipalities in Delaware, most populous city in the U.S. state of Delaware. The city was built on the site of Fort Christina, the first Swedish colonization of the Americas, Swedish settlement in North America. It lie ...

. At the age of 17, he witnessed surgery at the

Battle of Brandywine The Battle of Brandywine, also known as the Battle of Brandywine Creek, was fought between the American Continental Army of General George Washington and the British Army of General Sir William Howe on September 11, 1777, as part of the Am ...

. He also attended lectures at the medical school in Philadelphia, but did not graduate.

Career

After attending lectures, Baily was a surgeon on a privateer vessel-of-war that traveled to France. After returning, he practiced medicine until around 1789 with Humphrey Hill and Cadwallader Evans under the firm Baily, Hill & Evans. In 1794, he served as a captain against the

Whiskey Rebellion The Whiskey Rebellion (also known as the Whiskey Insurrection) was a violent tax protest in the United States beginning in 1791 and ending in 1794 during the presidency of George Washington. The so-called "whiskey tax" was the first tax impo ...

. and worked at Andover Works in

Sussex County, New Jersey Sussex County () is the northernmost county in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Its county seat is Newton.West Bradford Township, Pennsylvania West Bradford Township is a township that is located in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 14,706 at the time of the 2020 census. History There are three federal historic districts, Marshallton, Trimbleville, an ...

, before 1800 and resumed practicing medicine. He operated a general store in Marshallton. Baily was a

Federalist The term ''federalist'' describes several political beliefs around the world. It may also refer to the concept of parties, whose members or supporters call themselves ''Federalists''. History Europe federation In Europe, proponents of deep ...

. He served in the

, representing

from 1808 to 1813. He represented Chester and

Delaware Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...

counties in the

from 1814 to 1815. He then represented both counties as the 2nd district from 1815 to 1818. At the time of his death, he was serving as justice of the peace.

Personal life

Baily married Phebe Carpenter, daughter of John Carpenter, of West Bradford in 1789. They had six children. He married Rachel Carpenter, sister of Phebe, in 1802. They had four children. Baily was a member of the committee that escorted

Marquis de Lafayette Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette, Marquis de La Fayette (; 6 September 1757 – 20 May 1834), known in the United States as Lafayette (), was a French military officer and politician who volunteered to join the Conti ...

on the Battle of Brandywine battlefield on July 26, 1825, during Lafayette's visit to the United States. During the day on horseback, Baily irritated his bladder and that led to his death on August 13, 1825.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baily, Abraham 1760 births 1825 deaths Politicians from Chester County, Pennsylvania People from Sussex County, New Jersey Physicians from Pennsylvania People of the Whiskey Rebellion Pennsylvania Federalists Members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Pennsylvania state senators American justices of the peace 18th-century American physicians 19th-century American physicians 19th-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly