  william floyd (december 17, 1734 â august 4, 1821) was an american politician from new york, and a signer of the united states declaration of independence. ==biography== william floyd was born in brookhaven, new york long island, into a family of english and welsh origins and took over the family farm when his father died. his great-grandfather richard floyd was born in brecknockshire, wales in about 1620 and settled in the province of new york. william floyd was a member of the suffolk county militia in the early stages of the american revolutionary war, becoming major general. he was a delegate from new york in the first continental congress from 1774 to 1776. he was a member of the new york state senate (southern district) from 1777 to 1788. on july 4, 1787 he was elected an honorary member of the new york society of the cincinnati. in march 1789, he was elected to the 1st united states congress under the new constitution as an anti-administration candidate and served until march 3, 1791. floyd was a presidential elector in 1792, voting for george washington and george clinton. william floyd, for whom the town of floyd, ny is named, became a resident of oneida county in 1794. he is also buried there. in 1795, floyd ran for lieutenant governor of new york with robert yates on the democratic-republican ticket, but they were defeated by federalists john jay and stephen van rensselaer. floyd was again a presidential elector in 1800, voting for thomas jefferson and aaron burr; and in 1804, voting for thomas jefferson and george clinton. floyd was again a member of the state senate (western district) in 1808. in 1820, floyd was again chosen a presidential elector
1734_births 1821_deaths American_Presbyterians American_people_of_English_descent American_people_of_Welsh_descent Continental_Congressmen_from_New_York Members_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives_from_New_York Militia_generals_in_the_American_Revolution New_York_State_Senators People_from_Mastic_Beach,_New_York People_from_Westernville,_New_York Signers_of_the_United_States_Declaration_of_Independence United_States_presidential_electors