Benjamin Alden Bidlack

Democrat Representative of Pennsylvania's 11th district

Congresses Served

House Terms

September 8, 1804 (44 years old)

Birthday

February 6, 1849

Death

Served as a member of the US House of Representatives
Appointed chargé d’affaires to New Granada
Negotiated the Mallarino–Bidlack Treaty, committing the US to defend the sovereignty of a Latin American state
Born in Paris, New York, and moved to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where he completed his education
Studied law and was admitted to the state bar in 1825
Appointed deputy attorney of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Entered the newspaper business, founding the Northern Eagle in Pike County, Pennsylvania
Elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1835-1836
Became sympathetic to the case of Frances Slocum and introduced a joint resolution to exempt her and her Miami relatives from removal
After losing reelection, was appointed by President James Polk as chargé d’affaires on James Buchanan’s recommendation
Exceeded his diplomatic instructions by negotiating a treaty that gave the US transit rights on the Isthmus of Panama in exchange for a US guarantee of New Granada’s sovereignty
Died in Bogotá, Colombia, and was interred in the English Cemetery