Boyd Winchester

Boyd Winchester
A man with dark hair wearing a dark jacket, vest, and bowtie and a white shirt
8th United States Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein
In office
July 9, 1885 – May 24, 1889
PresidentGrover Cleveland
Preceded byMichael J. Cramer
Succeeded byJohn D. Washburn
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 5th district
In office
March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1873
Preceded byAsa Grover
Succeeded byElisha Standiford
Member of the Kentucky Senate
In office
1867-1868
Personal details
Born(1836-09-23)September 23, 1836
Ascension Parish, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedMay 18, 1923(1923-05-18) (aged 86)
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Resting placeCave Hill Cemetery
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materCentre College
University of Virginia
University of Louisville
ProfessionLawyer

Boyd Winchester (September 23, 1836 – May 18, 1923) was a United States representative from Kentucky. He was born in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. He pursued preparatory studies and then attended Centre College in Danville, Kentucky and the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, Virginia. He graduated from the law department of the University of Louisville, Kentucky, in 1857 and commenced practice in Louisville, Kentucky.

Winchester was a member of the Kentucky Senate in 1867 and 1868 when he resigned. He was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-first and Forty-second Congresses (March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1873) but was not a candidate for renomination in 1872. After leaving Congress, he resumed the practice of law in Louisville, Kentucky and was the president of an insurance company from 1875 to 1877. Winchester was president of the Democratic State Convention in 1884. He was also appointed Minister Resident and consul general to Switzerland and served from 1885 to 1889. Building on the experience and observations made during his tenure, he wrote the book "The Swiss Republic", the publication of which coincided with the 600th anniversary of the foundation of the Swiss Confederation.

Winchester died in Louisville, Kentucky, and was buried in Cave Hill Cemetery.