Benjamin Gorham
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Gorham was a U.S.
Representative
from Massachusetts
.
He was the son of Nathaniel Gorham
, who served as one of the Presidents of the Continental Congress. Benjamin was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts
. He pursued preparatory studies, graduated from Harvard University
in 1795, and studied law. When he was admitted to the bar he commenced practice in Boston
. From 1814 to 1818 he served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
and then turned to the Massachusetts State Senate, where he served from May 26, 1819 until he resigned on January 10, 1821. He was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Sixteenth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Jonathan Mason
; he was re-elected when the term expired, and served until March 3, 1823.
Afterwards he returned to the State senate for one term beginning May 28, 1823, before being elected as an Adams
candidate to the Twentieth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Daniel Webster
and then reelected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the Twenty-first Congress and served from July 23, 1827, to March 3, 1831. After a term filled by Nathan Appleton
, he was elected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the Twenty-third Congress (March 4, 1833 - March 3, 1835). Afterward he served again a member of the State house of representatives in 1841 and resumed the practice of law.
He died in Boston in 1855, aged 80, and was interred in the Phipps Street Burying Ground
in Charlestown.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Representative
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 Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
He was the son of Nathaniel Gorham
Nathaniel Gorham
Nathaniel Gorham was the fourteenth President of the United States in Congress assembled, under the Articles of Confederation...
, who served as one of the Presidents of the Continental Congress. Benjamin was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts
Charlestown, Massachusetts
Charlestown is a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and is located on a peninsula north of downtown Boston. Charlestown was originally a separate town and the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony; it became a city in 1847 and was annexed by Boston on January 5, 1874...
. He pursued preparatory studies, graduated from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1795, and studied law. When he was admitted to the bar he commenced practice in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. From 1814 to 1818 he served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
and then turned to the Massachusetts State Senate, where he served from May 26, 1819 until he resigned on January 10, 1821. He was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Sixteenth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Jonathan Mason
Jonathan Mason (politician)
Jonathan Mason was a Federalist United States Senator and Representative from Massachusetts during the early years of the United States....
; he was re-elected when the term expired, and served until March 3, 1823.
Afterwards he returned to the State senate for one term beginning May 28, 1823, before being elected as an Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
candidate to the Twentieth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster was a leading American statesman and senator from Massachusetts during the period leading up to the Civil War. He first rose to regional prominence through his defense of New England shipping interests...
and then reelected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the Twenty-first Congress and served from July 23, 1827, to March 3, 1831. After a term filled by Nathan Appleton
Nathan Appleton
Nathan Appleton was an American merchant and politician.- Biography :Appleton was born in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, the son of Isaac Appleton and his wife Mary Adams. Appleton's father was a church deacon, and Nathan was brought up in "strictest form of Calvinistic Congregationalism." He was...
, he was elected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the Twenty-third Congress (March 4, 1833 - March 3, 1835). Afterward he served again a member of the State house of representatives in 1841 and resumed the practice of law.
He died in Boston in 1855, aged 80, and was interred in the Phipps Street Burying Ground
Phipps Street Burying Ground
Phipps Street Burying Ground is a historic cemetery on Phipps Street in Charlestown, Massachusetts, a neighborhood of Boston.The burial ground was created in 1630, the first cemetery in Boston...
in Charlestown.