Isaac D. Barnard

Isaac Dutton Barnard (July 18, 1791 – February 28, 1834) was an American militia leader, lawyer, and politician who served as a United States Senator for Pennsylvania from 1827 to 1831. He served as a Major in the U.S. Army during the War of 1812 and as a Pennsylvania State Senator for the 4th district from 1820 until 1826.

Early life and education Barnard was born is Aston Township, Pennsylvania The family name is derived from Roche-Bernard in Normandy, France where the family originated. Barnard's great-grandfather, Richard emigrated to Chester County, Pennsylvania prior to 1686.

Barnard worked as a scholar at several public schools. He lived in Philadelphia until 1811 and then moved to Chester, Pennsylvania.

Military career At age 20, Barnard received a commission as Captain of the Fourteenth Regiment, United States Infantry. He opened a recruitment station in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He fought in the War of 1812 and saw action at Baltimore, Sackett's Creek, the Canadien Frontier, Fort George, La Cole's Mill, the battle of Crysler's Farm, the Battle of Plattsburgh and Lyon's Creek. Barnard was also a major-general of militia, and declined the judgeship of Chester County.

Barnard served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 4th district from 1821 to 1826. He was instrumental in securing funds for a memorial to the Battle of Paoli.

The year he left the State Senate, he was the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

He undertook part of a second Senate term, but resigned from the Senate on December 6, 1831, Just before he resigned, the New York papers were reportedly demanding that Barnard be given a place in the United States Cabinet.

Personal life In 1820, Barnard married Harriet Darlington, the daughter of Isaac Darlington. She died during childbirth in 1823 and he never remarried.

Legacy Barnard died on February 28, 1834, in West Chester. He was originally interred at the Friends Burying Ground on North High Street but after twenty years he was re-interred in Oaklands Cemetery.

William Everhart, a wealthy merchant and friend of Barnard's, named a street in West Chester after Barnard sometime after the summer of 1830.

In 1854, a monument in Oaklands Cemetery was erected in his memory.

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