Linn Boyd (November 22, 1800-December 17, 1859) was a prominent U.S. politician of the 1840s and 1850s, and served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1851 to 1855. Boyd was elected to the House as a Democrat from Kentucky from 1835 to 1837 and again from 1839 to 1855, serving seven terms in the House. Boyd served in the Kentucky House of Representatives after first winning election in 1827. He represented Calloway County and his father represented neighboring Trigg County. In 1831 Boyd moved to Trigg County and was elected to the House again from there.
In 1833 Boyd lost his first campaign for the United States House of Representatives. In 1835 he was elected to the House and served there until 1837 when a Whig landslide cost him his seat. Boyd soon returned to the House, serving from 1839 through 1855. He was a strong supporter of President Andrew Jackson. Boyd played a key role in manuevering the annexation of Texas through Congress during the term of President John Tyler in 1845. Boyd was also important in getting the Compromise of 1850, chiefly credited to Henry Clay, passed through Congress. Largely though his prominence in sheperding the Compromise of 1850 to passage, Boyd was elected Speaker of the House in 1851 and held that office until 1855.
In 1856 Boyd was put forth as a candidate for Vice President of the United States but was not nominated or elected.
Boyd was elected Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky in 1859 but died shortly thereafter. This became significant with the onset of the Civil War. Governor Beriah Magoffin, supportive of slavery, secession and states' rights, became increasingly unpopular and distrusted as Kentucky sought to maintain a neutral course between the Union and the Confederate States of America. Unionists held a two-thirds majority in both houses of the Kentucky General Assembly in summer 1861 and frequently overrode Magoffin's vetos. By August 1862 Magoffin made it clear that he was willing to resign the governorship. However, due to Linn Boyd's death, the person next in line to become Governor of Kentucky was Speaker of the Senate John F. Fisk, who was unacceptable to Magoffin. Fisk resigned as Speaker and was replaced by James F. Robinson. Magoffin resigned; Robinson became governor and Fisk was reinstalled as Speaker of the Senate.
Had Boyd lived, he almost certainly would have served as Governor of Kentucky.
Preceded by: Howell Cobb Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives December 1, 1851 - March 3, 1853; December 5, 1853 - March 3, 1855 Succeeded by: Nathaniel P. Banks Preceded by: James G. Hardy Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky 1859 Succeeded by: Richard Taylor Jacob
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