William Daniel Brayton

Who was William Daniel Brayton?

William Daniel Brayton was a U.S. Representative from Rhode Island.

Born in Warwick, Rhode Island, Brayton attended Kent Academy in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Brayton spent two years in Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island and then engaged in mercantile pursuits. He was a Major of the Fourth Regiment of Rhode Island Militia in the Dorr Rebellion. Later, in 1844, he was the town clerk of Warwick and also as member of the town council. He served as member of the State house of representatives in 1841 and 1851. He served in the State Senate in 1848 and 1853.

Brayton was elected as a Republican to the Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth Congresses. He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures on Public Buildings. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1860 to the Thirty-seventh Congress.

He was appointed collector of internal revenue for the second district of Rhode Island in 1862 and served until 1871, when he resigned. He served as delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1872. For a number of years he was in charge of the money-order division of the Providence post office. He died in Providence, Rhode Island on June 30, 1887.