{"value"=>"<p>William Bayard: 1761-1826. A New York City merchant and land developer. He was born in Greenwich Village, the son of Col. William Bayard and Catherine (Mc. Evers) Bayard. Bayard was descended from Balthazar Bayard, a Huguenot.</p> <p>Colonel Bayard was also a merchant and landowner whose estate included nearly all the lands where the city of Hoboken, New Jersey stands. He was a Tory whose beliefs eventually forced him to move to England with his family except the younger William. He married Elizabeth Cornell, the daughter of Samuel Cornell.</p> <p>On December 1, 1786, Bayard formed a partnership with Herman Le Roy, they later took in Bayard's cousin James Mc Evers. A venture to Teneriffe for liquor was the first step to the development of the firm, which became the leading commercial enterprise of New York for 40 years. They traded with Europe and the East and West Indies. By 1822 they had several ships trading along the South American coast, taking advantage of the Latin American Revolutions. During the embargo imposed by President Thomas Jefferson, the firm turned to land speculation, the town of Le Roy, Genessee County is a reminder of that business.</p> <p>Besides his real estate and mercantile activities, Bayard was able to serve as president of the New York State Chamber of Commerce, the president of the Bank of America, and the president of the Morris Canal Co. He died after a long illness, leaving the firm to his two, sons Robert and William Bayard.</p>"}