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William D. Byron

William D. Byron
William D. Byron, 1942
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 6th district
In office January 3, 1939 – February 27, 1941
Preceded by	David J. Lewis
Succeeded by	Katharine Byron
Member of the Maryland Senate
In office 1930–1934
Mayor of Williamsport
In office 1926–1930
Personal details
Born	William Devereux Byron II (1895-05-15)May 15, 1895 Danville, Virginia, U.S.
Died	February 27, 1941(1941-02-27) (aged 45) Jonesboro, Clayton County, Georgia, U.S.
Resting place	Riverview Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Katharine Byron
Children	5, including Goodloe Byron
Education	Phillips Exeter Academy Pratt Institute

William Devereux Byron II (May 15, 1895 – February 27, 1941), a Democrat, was a U.S. Congressman who represented the 6th congressional districtofMaryland from January 3, 1939, to February 27, 1941. After his death in an airplane crash in Georgia on February 27, 1941, his widow, Katharine Byron, a granddaughter of U.S. Senator Louis E. McComas, was elected in a special election to complete his term of office.

Born in Danville, Virginia, he moved with his parents to Williamsport, Maryland in 1900 where he attended the public schools, Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, New Hampshire and Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York. The Byron family were communicants at Saint John's Church. Following his service in the aviation corps during World War I, where he was commissioned a first lieutenant he entered the family leather manufacturing business in 1919. He served in the Maryland Senate from 1930 to 1934 and as mayor of Williamsport from 1926 to 1930 as had his grandfather, for whom he was named.

In 1940 Byron was challenged by baseball legend, Hall of Famer, and Montgomery County Commissioner Walter Johnson. Byron would narrowly prevail, by a total of 60,037 (53%) to 52,258 (47%),^[1] thanks in large part to the power of incumbency and FDR's coat tails.

On February 26, 1941, Congressman Byron boarded Eastern Air Lines Flight 21 at Washington. The plane was en route from New York CitytoBrownsville, Texas, with stops at Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, Georgia. On its approach to Atlanta's Chandler Field, the Douglas DC-3 crashed, killing 9 of the 16 persons on board, including Byron. Eddie Rickenbacker, flying ace and President of Eastern, survived with serious injuries.^[2] Byron was interred in Riverview Cemetery in Williamsport, Maryland.

His son Goodloe Byron was also a representative from Maryland's 6th congressional district.

See also[edit]

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–1949)

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Byron Family papers at the University of Maryland Libraries

• United States Congress. "William D. Byron (id: B001206)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• William D. ByronatFind a Grave
• United States Congress (1942). Memorial Addresses: William Devereux Byron, Late a Representative. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.