Samuel Page BENSON, Congress, ME (1804-1876)

BENSON, Samuel Page, a Representative from Maine, born in Winthrop, Maine, November 28, 1804; received instruction from private teachers and attended the Monmouth (Maine) Academy; was graduated from Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, in 1825; studied law; was admitted to the Kennebec County bar in 1828 and commenced practice in Unity, Maine; returned to Winthrop and practiced law until 1850; railroad builder; secretary of the Androscoggin & Kennebec (later Maine Central) Railroad; member of the State house of representatives in 1833 and 1834; served in the State senate in 1836 and 1837; secretary of state 1838-1841; overseer of Bowdoin College 1838-1876 and president of the board for sixteen years; chairman of the board of selectmen 1844-1848; elected as a Whig to the Thirty-third Congress and as an Opposition Party to the Thirty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1853-March 3, 1857); chairman, Committee on Naval Affairs (Thirty-fourth Congress); was not a candidate for reelection in 1856; resumed the practice of law; died in Yarmouth, Cumberland County, Maine, August 12, 1876; interment in Maple Cemetery, Winthrop, Maine.

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