US Senator, Continental Congressman. He was born on January 23, 1742 (some sources say 1741), one of two children (his sister Sarah Blake Izard was born in 1745), to Captain Henry Izard and his wife, Margaret Johnson Izard, at "The Elms" near Charleston, South Carolina (some sources say Berkeley County, South Carolina). He was brought up in South Carolina and after his parents, both died while he was still young he was sent to England where he was educated with classical studies. He spent most of his early childhood and youth in the Hackney area of London, England. Besides his classical studies, he also spent some time being educated at the prestigious Trinity Hall in Cambridge, England. Following his education, he returned to America in 1764 briefly and was married to Alice DeLancey (a niece of Politician and Judge James DeLancey, and a descendent of the 17th Mayor of New York City Stephanus Van Cortlandt), on May 1, 1767, in South Carolina, and the couple would have at least fourteen children together but only seven survived to adulthood (they include, Margaret Izard was born in 1768, Henry Izard was born in 1771, George Izard was born in 1776, and Ralph DeLancey Izard was born in 1785, and Rosetta Margaretta Izard was born in 1789). He then relocated to London, England, in 1771, and then to Paris, France, in 1776. He then entered politics and he was appointed Commissioner of the Court of Tuscany by the Continental Congress in 1776 but he was recalled in 1779. He returned to America in 1780 but had to leave his family behind in France so that he could concentrate on his work during the American Revolutionary War. He donated his large estate (which he had bought with his earnings as a successful planter and from politics) in South Carolina for payment of warships to be used in the war. He then returned to public service and was elected a Delegate to the Continental Congress of the Confederation from South Carolina and served in that post from 1782 to 1783. His family returned from France in 1783 and they resettled in South Carolina. He then was elected as a United States Senator from South Carolina in 1788. A Member of the Pro-Administration Party, he then served as a United States Senator (alongside United States Representative Pierce Butler) from March 4, 1789, to March 4, 1795, and served as President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate during the Third Congress from May 31, 1794, to November 9, 1794. After his term as President of the Pro Tempore expired on November 9, 1794, he was succeeded in office by United States Representative Henry Tazewell, and when his term in the United States Senate expired on March 4, 1795, he was succeeded in office by United States Representative Jacob Read. He was also one of the founders of the College of Charleston. Following his retirement from public service, he returned to public life to care for his vast estates and to spend time with his family beginning in 1795. He was taken seriously ill within two years of his retirement and he was stricken with an untreatable illness and paralysis on one side of his body. He passed away a few years later on May 30, 1804, at the age of about 62 or 63, in Charleston, South Carolina. He was buried in the St. James Goose Creek Episcopal Churchyard in that city. His wife Alice passed away on April 1, 1832, and she was buried with her husband. His family included several notable members who achieved several important roles in there lives, his son Ralph, was a naval hero of Tripoli. The World War II USS Izard was named after him. In 1808, Izard married Eliza Pinckney, daughter of Major General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, a signer of the Constitution, and a granddaughter of Colonel Charles Pinckney, chief justice of South Carolina. Ralph's wife was also a niece of Arthur Middleton. A son, Major General George Izard, was a Governor of Arkansas. A daughter, Anne, married William Allan Deas {1764-1863} with whom they had a son, the painter, Charles Deas. William's brother was Colonel James Sutherland Deas {1784-1864} who was the father of CS General Zachariah Cantey Deas. A daughter, Charlotte, married William Loughton Smith {a son of South Carolina Assemblyman Benjamin Smith}, William L. Smith was also a brother-in-law of South Carolina Congressman Isaac Motte. A great-grandson of Ralph Izard was Charles Manigault Morris who was also a great-grandson of Lewis Morris. A cousin of Charles Manigault Morris was General Arthur Middleton Manigault who was descended from Mary Izard-cousin of Ralph Izard. A cousin Sarah Izard married South Carolina Loyalist Governor Lord William Campbell. A cousin twice removed was Elizabeth {"Eliza"} Izard who was a daughter-in-law of Congressman of South Carolina Thomas Pinckney. One niece Elizabeth Izard married Alexander Wright (1751–?), a son of Loyalist Governor of Georgia James Wright (Governor).