Robert C. Byrd
Senior Senator from West Virginia
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 1959 Serving with Jay Rockefeller
Preceded by	W. Chapman Revercomb
13th United States Senate Majority Leader
In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1981
Preceded by	Mike Mansfield
Succeeded by	Howard Baker
16th United States Senate Majority Leader
In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1989
Preceded by	Bob Dole
Succeeded by	George J. Mitchell
16th United States Senate Minority Leader
In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1987
Preceded by	Howard Baker
Succeeded by	Bob Dole
17th Majority Whip of the United States Senate
In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1977
Preceded by	Ted Kennedy
Succeeded by	Alan Cranston
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1995 January 3, 2001 - January 20, 2001 June 6, 2001 - January 3, 2003 January 3, 2007 -
Preceded by	John C. Stennis (1989) Strom Thurmond (2001) Ted Stevens (2007)
Succeeded by	Strom Thurmond (1995 & 2001) Ted Stevens (2003)
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations
In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1995 January 3, 2001 - January 20, 2001 June 6, 2001 - January 3, 2003 January 3, 2007 -
Preceded by	John C. Stennis (1989) Ted Stevens (2001) Thad Cochran (2007)
Succeeded by	Mark O. Hatfield (1995) Ted Stevens (2001 & 2003)
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the West Virginia 6th District
In office January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1959
Preceded by	E. H. Hedrick
Succeeded by	John Slack, Jr.
Born	November 20, 1917 (1917-11-20) (age 90) North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Erma Ora Byrd (deceased)
Religion	Southern Baptist
Website	U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd

Robert Carlyle Byrd (born November 20, 1917) is the senior United States Senator from West Virginia and a member of the Democratic Party. Byrd has held the office since January 3, 1959; he is the longest-serving member in the history of the Senate. He is also the oldest current member of the United States Congress.

Byrd is President pro tempore of the United States Senate of the 110th United States Congress, a position that puts him third in line of presidential succession, behind Vice President Dick Cheney and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He also held this post previously from 1989–1995, briefly in January 2001, and from June 2001 – January 2003.

He also previously held many leadership positions: Senate Conference Secretary, Majority Whip and twice Majority Leader. He is the only former majority leader currently in the Senate.