Representative James Guyon

James Guyon Jr. (December 24, 1778 – March 9, 1846 Staten Island) was an American politician from New York who served one term in the United States House of Representatives as a member of the Republican Party, representing New York during a significant period in the early republic. He participated in the democratic process at both the state and national levels and represented the interests of his Richmond County constituents during a time of political realignment following the War of 1812.

Guyon was born into a long-established Staten Island family of French Protestant descent. He was the son of James Guyon (born 1746) and Susannah Guyon, members of a prominent local lineage whose presence on Staten Island dated back to the colonial era. Over the course of his life he married three times: first to Ann Bedell, then to Ann Perine, and finally to Martha Seguine, all from families closely tied to the social and economic life of Staten Island. His family connections extended into public service; his half-brother Harmanus “Harry” Guyon later served in the New York State Assembly from 1819 to 1820.

Although details of his formal education are not extensively documented, Guyon’s subsequent military and political responsibilities suggest that he received sufficient schooling and practical training to manage landholdings and public affairs in early nineteenth-century New York. Raised in a community of landowning families and local officeholders, he came of age in an environment that encouraged civic participation, militia service, and involvement in county and town governance.

Guyon’s public career began with military service in the New York militia. In 1807 he was appointed captain of the Second Squadron, First Division of Cavalry, reflecting both his local standing and the importance of militia leadership in the years leading up to the War of 1812. During the war period he entered state politics, representing Richmond County as a member of the New York State Assembly from 1812 to 1814. While continuing his militia service, he rose in rank, being promoted to major in 1814, and in 1819 he attained the rank of colonel of the First Regiment of Horse Artillery, a position that underscored his ongoing role in the state’s defensive organization.

Guyon’s congressional service arose out of a contested election that highlighted the procedural complexities of early federal elections. In the United States House of Representatives elections in New York in 1818, he ran as a Republican candidate and received a larger number of votes than his opponent, Ebenezer Sage. However, Sage was initially declared elected because a portion of the vote had been returned simply for “James Guyon,” omitting the “Jr.” suffix and creating ambiguity as to the intended candidate. Although Sage was declared the winner, he did not take or claim the seat. Guyon successfully contested the result, and after review he was seated on January 14, 1820, as a member of the 16th United States Congress. He served in the House until March 3, 1821, completing one full term in office. During this period he contributed to the legislative process as a member of the Republican Party, participating in debates and votes at a time when issues such as postwar economic policy, internal improvements, and the evolving balance between state and federal authority were central to national politics.

Following the conclusion of his term in Congress, Guyon returned to private life on Staten Island. He engaged in farming, managing and working his land in a community where agriculture remained a principal economic activity. His withdrawal from higher office did not diminish the local presence of the Guyon family, which continued to be reflected in the built environment and civic memory of Staten Island. The family’s local legacy includes James’s nearby Guyon Tavern, dating from around 1820, which served as a store and gathering place, as well as the landmarked Guyon-Lake-Tysen House, built circa 1740, and the original Guyon-Clarke House, dating to around 1670, which stood until 1925 at the foot of what is now Guyon Avenue.

James Guyon Jr. died on March 9, 1846, on Staten Island. He was interred in St. Andrew’s Cemetery, a historic burial ground that contains the graves of many early Staten Island families. His life and career, spanning militia service, state legislative office, and a contested but ultimately successful term in the United States Congress, reflect the intertwined military, agricultural, and political roles of local leaders in New York during the early decades of the nineteenth century.