Benjamin Babock Thurston
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Babock Thurston (June 29, 1804 - May 17, 1886) was a U.S. Representative
from Rhode Island
.
Born in Hopkinton, Rhode Island
, Thurston attended the common schools, and later engaged in mercantile pursuits. He served as member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
1831-1837, and as Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island in 1838.
Thurston was elected as a Democrat
to the Thirtieth Congress
(March 4, 1847-March 3, 1849). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1849 to the Thirty-first Congress
.
Thurston was elected as a Democrat
to the Thirty-second
and Thirty-third Congresses
and as a candidate of the American Party
to the Thirty-fourth Congress
(March 4, 1851-March 3, 1857). He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Treasury (Thirty-second Congress), Committee on Patents (Thirty-third Congress), Committee on Accounts
(Thirty-fourth Congress). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1857.
After leaving Congress, Thurston moved to New London, Connecticut
, where he served as member of the board of aldermen in 1862 and 1863. He served as member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
in 1869 and 1870. He resumed mercantile pursuits. He died in New London, Connecticut
, May 17, 1886. He was interred in Cedar Grove Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
.
Born in Hopkinton, Rhode Island
Hopkinton, Rhode Island
Hopkinton is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 8,188 at the 2010 census.The villages of Ashaway and Hope Valley are located in Hopkinton.-Geography:Hopkinton is found at 41.461 N latitude and 71.778 W longitude...
, Thurston attended the common schools, and later engaged in mercantile pursuits. He served as member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
Rhode Island House of Representatives
The Rhode Island House of Representatives is the lower house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. State of Rhode Island. It is composed of 75 members, elected to two year terms from 75 districts of equal population. The Rhode Island General Assembly does not have...
1831-1837, and as Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island in 1838.
Thurston was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Thirtieth Congress
30th United States Congress
The Thirtieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1847 to March 3, 1849, during the last two years of...
(March 4, 1847-March 3, 1849). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1849 to the Thirty-first Congress
31st United States Congress
The Thirty-first United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1849 to March 3, 1851, during the last 17 months...
.
Thurston was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Thirty-second
32nd United States Congress
The Thirty-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1851 to March 3, 1853, during the third and...
and Thirty-third Congresses
33rd United States Congress
The Thirty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1853 to March 3, 1855, during the first two years...
and as a candidate of the American Party
Know Nothing
The Know Nothing was a movement by the nativist American political faction of the 1840s and 1850s. It was empowered by popular fears that the country was being overwhelmed by German and Irish Catholic immigrants, who were often regarded as hostile to Anglo-Saxon Protestant values and controlled by...
to the Thirty-fourth Congress
34th United States Congress
The Thirty-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1855 to March 4, 1857, during the last two years...
(March 4, 1851-March 3, 1857). He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Treasury (Thirty-second Congress), Committee on Patents (Thirty-third Congress), Committee on Accounts
United States House Committee on Accounts
The United States House Committee on Accounts is a former committee of the United States House of Representatives from 1803 to 1927.-History:The committee was created on December 27, 1803, and was made a standing committee in 1805....
(Thirty-fourth Congress). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1857.
After leaving Congress, Thurston moved to New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, where he served as member of the board of aldermen in 1862 and 1863. He served as member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
Connecticut House of Representatives
The Connecticut House of Representatives is the lower house in the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The house is composed of 151 members representing an equal number of districts, with each constituency containing nearly 22,600 residents...
in 1869 and 1870. He resumed mercantile pursuits. He died in New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, May 17, 1886. He was interred in Cedar Grove Cemetery.