Henry BEDINGER, Congress, VA (1812-1858)

BEDINGER, Henry, (nephew of George Michael Bedinger), a Representative from Virginia; born near Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, Va. (now West Virginia), February 3, 1812; attended the common schools; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1832 and commenced practice in Shepherdstown; moved to Charlestown, Va., and continued the practice of law; elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth Congresses (March 4, 1845-March 3, 1849); was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1848 to the Thirty-first Congress; resumed the practice of law; appointed Chargé d’Affaires to Denmark on May 24, 1853, and Minister Resident June 29, 1854, in which capacity he served until August 10, 1858, when he resigned; died in Shepherdstown, W.Va., November 26, 1858; interment in Elmwood Cemetery.

Bibliography

Levin, Alexandra Lee. “Henry Bedinger of Virginia: First United States Minister to Denmark.” Virginia Cavalcade 29 (Spring 1980): 184-91.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present