William BINGHAM, Congress, PA (1752-1804)

BINGHAM, William, a Delegate and a Senator from Pennsylvania; born in Philadelphia, Pa., March 8, 1752; was graduated from Philadelphia College in 1768; agent of the Continental Congress at Martinique, and afterwards consul at St. Pierre, in the West Indies 1777-1780; Member of the Continental Congress 1786-1788; member, State house of representatives 1790-1791, serving as speaker in 1791; served in, and was president of, the State senate 1794-1795; elected as a Federalist to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1795, to March 3, 1801; was not a candidate for reelection; served as President pro tempore of the Senate during the Fourth Congress; withdrew from public life and engaged in the management of his extensive estates; moved in 1801 to Bath, England, and resided with his daughter until his death in that city on February 7, 1804; interment in Bath Abbey, Bath, England.

Bibliography

Dictionary of American Biography; Alberts, Robert. The Golden Voyage: The Life and Times of William Bingham. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1969.

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