This memorial volume pays tribute to the life and work of William L. Dayton, a prominent American politician and diplomat of the mid-nineteenth century. Dayton served as a U.S. Senator and as Minister to France during the Civil War, and was an influential figure in shaping American foreign policy during a critical period in the nation's history. This book is a valuable resource for historians and political scientists interested in American diplomacy and politics in the mid-nineteenth century. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.