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==Early life==

==Early life==

Dayton was born in Elizabethtown (now Elizabeth), [[New Jersey]], on October 16, 1760, the son of Elias Dayton.  He graduated from the College of New Jersey (now [[Princeton University]]) in 1776; following a course of legal study, he was admitted to the bar.<ref>http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000165</ref>

Dayton was born in Elizabethtown (now Elizabeth), [[New Jersey]], on October 16, 1760, the son of Elias and Hannah Rolfe Dayton.<ref>[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Encyclopedia_of_New_Jersey/_r9Ni6_u0JEC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA192 Encyclopedia of New Jersey]</ref> He graduated from the College of New Jersey (now [[Princeton University]]) in 1776; following a course of legal study, he was admitted to the bar.<ref>http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000165</ref>  At Princeton he was classmates with [[Alexander Hamilton]].<ref>[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Discovering_Hamilton/5oOiDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA231 Discovering Hamilton]</ref>

==Military Service==

==Military Service==

During the Revolutionary War, Dayton served in the Third and later the Second [[New Jersey]] Regiment of the Continental Army from 1776-1783, serving as paymaster of his father's unit and later attaining the rank of captain.  He was taken prisoner at Elizabethtown, N.J., and later exchanged.<ref>http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000165</ref><ref>http://virtualology.com/usconstitution/JONATHANDAYTON.COM/</ref>

During the Revolutionary War, Dayton served in the Third [[New Jersey]] Regiment of the Continental Army from 1776-1783, serving as paymaster of his father's unit and later attaining the rank of captain.  He was taken prisoner at Elizabethtown, N.J., and later exchanged.<ref>http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000165</ref><ref>http://virtualology.com/usconstitution/JONATHANDAYTON.COM/</ref>  Later, he moved to the Second New Jersey Regiment, and fought in the [[Battle of Yorktown]].<ref>[https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Twentieth_Century_Biographical_Dicti/ZmpmAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA1942 The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans]</ref>

==Constitutional Convention==

==Career==

Dayton was a delegate to the [[Constitutional Convention]] in 1787, and signed the [[United States Constitution]].  Other members of the New Jersey delegation to the Convention were [[William Houston]], [[William Livingston]], [[William Paterson]], and [[David Brearley]].

Dayton served as a [[New Jersey]] delegate to the Continental Congress from 1787-1788, and was elected to be a delegate to the [[Constitutional Convention]] in 1787.  Other members of the New Jersey delegation to the Convention were [[William Houston]], [[William Livingston]], [[William Paterson]], and [[David Brearley]].

==Continental Congress and Later Political Service==

He was a signer of the finalized Constitution, and at 26 years of age was the youngest person to sign the [[United States Constitution]].

Dayton served as a [[New Jersey]] delegate to the Continental Congress from 1787-1788. He was elected to the Second and to the three succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1791 – March 3, 1799. During this time, he also held the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives for the Fourth and Fifth Congresses.  In 1798, rather than seek re-election, he chose to seek election to the Senate, running as a [[Federalist]].  He was successfully elected  to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1799, to March 3, 1805.

 

He was elected to the Second and to the three succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1791 – March 3, 1799. During this time, he also held the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives for the Fourth and Fifth Congresses.  In 1798, rather than seek re-election, he chose to seek election to the Senate, running as a [[Federalist]].  He was successfully elected  to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1799, to March 3, 1805.

==Controversy and Accusations==

==Controversy and Accusations==

In 1807, Dayton was arrested on charges of treason for supposedly conspiring with [[Aaron Burr]].  He was subsequently released, and the case was never brought to trial.<ref>http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000165</ref>

In 1807, Dayton was arrested on charges of treason for supposedly conspiring with [[Aaron Burr]].  He was subsequently released, and the case was never brought to trial.<ref>http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000165</ref>

==Death==

==Death and legacy==

Dayton died in Elizabethtown in 1824 and was interred in a vault in St. John's Churchyard.

Dayton died in Elizabethtown in 1824 and was interred in a vault in St. John's Churchyard.

The city of [[Dayton, Ohio]] is named after him.  

*The city of [[Dayton, Ohio]] is named for him.  

==References==

==References==

{{Constitutional Convention}}

{{Constitutional Convention}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dayton, Jonathan}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dayton, Jonathan}}

[[Category:Founding Fathers]]

[[Category:Founding Fathers]]

[[Category:American Revolution]]

[[Category:American Revolution]]