Dayton, Jonathan

Dayton, Jonathan

(1760–1824) U.S. representative/senator; born in Elizabeth-Town, N.J. A captain at Yorktown, he served in the New Jersey assembly (1786–87), leaving to attend the Federal Convention. He served in four congresses (Fed., N.J.; 1791–99), supporting Alexander Hamilton's banking policies. A one-term senator (1799–1805), his federal career ended abruptly when he was indicted for treason in 1807 with his friend Aaron Burr. Never prosecuted, he subsequently held local and state offices in New Jersey.