Richard S. Ayer

Richard Small Ayer
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 1st district
In office January 31, 1870 – March 3, 1871
Preceded by	Joseph Segar
Succeeded by	John Critcher
Member of the Maine House of Representatives
In office 1888
Personal details
Born	(1829-10-09)October 9, 1829 Montville, Maine
Died	December 14, 1896(1896-12-14) (aged 67) Liberty, Maine
Resting place	Montville, Maine
Political party	Republican
Occupation	farmer, merchant
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1861–1863
Rank	First Lieutenant
Unit	4th Maine Infantry
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Richard Small Ayer (October 9, 1829 – December 14, 1896) was a U.S. Representative from Virginia.

Biography

Born in Montville, Maine, Ayer attended the common schools. He was engaged for a number of years in agricultural and mercantile pursuits. During the Civil War enlisted in 1861 in the Union Army as a private in Company A, Fourth Regiment, Maine Volunteer Infantry. He was subsequently promoted to first lieutenant and was mustered out as a captain on March 22, 1863, for disability. He settled in Virginia in 1865 and located near Warsaw He served as delegate to the Virginia constitutional convention in 1867-1868. Upon the readmission of the State of Virginia to representation Ayer was elected as a Republican to the Forty-first Congress defeating Conservative Joseph Eggleton Segar and Independents Daniel M. Norton and George W. Lewis and served from January 31, 1870, until March 3, 1871. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1870. He engaged in agricultural pursuits. He returned to Montville, Maine. He served as member of the State house of representatives in 1888. He died in Liberty, Maine, December 14, 1896. He was interred in Mount Repose Cemetery, Montville, Maine.

Sources

• United States Congress. "Richard S. Ayer (id: A000351)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. 
• Richard S. Ayer at Find-A-Grave

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.