Robert C. Byrd, in full Robert Carlyle Byrd, original name Cornelius Calvin Sale, Jr., (born November 20, 1917, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, U.S.—died June 28, 2010, Falls Church, Virginia), American Democratic politician who served as a representative from West Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives (1953–59) and as a U.S. senator from West Virginia (1959–2010). Byrd was the longest-serving member of the Senate and longest-serving member of Congress in American history. In his decades-long Senate career, Byrd held various leadership positions, including Democratic whip (1971–77), majority leader (1977–80, 1987–88), minority leader (1981–86), and president pro tempore (1989–95, 2001–03, 2007–10).