Thomas R. Bard
Thomas Robert Bard ( born December 8, 1841 in Chambersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, † March 5, 1915 in Port Hueneme, California ) was an American politician of the Republican Party. From 1900 to 1905 he represented the State of California in the U.S. Senate. He was known primarily as the "Father of Port Hueneme " for his work for the foundation and expansion of the city as well as the single high seaport of the region. He is a co-founder of the company UNOCAL.
Early life
Bard was born on December 8, 1841 in Chambersburg. He went to school there, and then made his lawyer graduated from the Chambersburg Academy in 1858. Prior to his graduation, he signed a contract with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Later he became assistant to the head of the Cumberland Valley Railroad. Bard also engaged in the grain business of Hagerstown. During the Civil War Bard fought for the Union Army. He was scouts during incidence of Konföderationstruppen in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Political career
1864 moved Thomas Bard in today's Ventura County in California. He was a member of the Control Committee of the Santa Barbara County from 1868 to 1873. , 1871, he was commissioned to create the Ventura County. During this time he drew up the plans for the construction of Port Hueneme, where he built his estate also Berylwood Estate.
Bard was Californian delegate to the Republican National Convention of the year 1884. Between 1886 and 1887, he was chairman of the Agriculture Committee of California. 1887 Bard was co-founder of Occidental College. He was elected to the U.S. Senate, as a court during the term of office, which began on March 4, 1899, was vacant. Bard took on February 7, 1900 on his work and served until March 3, 1905. A renewed candidacy failed. During his tenure was Bard member of the Committee on Fisheries ( 47th Congress ) and the Bewässerungsauschusses (48th Congress ).
One of his memorable deeds during the term of office was to send the later General George S. Patton to West Point.
Family and later life
Thomas R. Bard was then a successful businessman in the oil industry. He died on March 5, 1915 at his estate " Berylwood " in Port Hueneme and was buried there in the family cemetery. In 1965 his biography under the title Oil, Land and Politics.
His son, Archibald Philip Bard, was a famous physiologist and dean of the Johns Hopkins Medical School.