Samuel Page Benson

Opposition Representative of Maine's 4th district

Congresses Served

House Terms

November 28, 1804 (71 years old)

Birthday

August 12, 1876

Death

Born in Winthrop, Massachusetts (now Maine) in 1804.
Graduated from Bowdoin College in 1825.
Studied law, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in Unity before returning to Winthrop.
Worked as a railroad builder and served as secretary of the Androscoggin & Kennebec Railroad, which later became the Maine Central Railroad.
Served in the Maine House of Representatives and the Maine State Senate.
Held the position of Maine Secretary of State twice, in 1838 and again in 1841.
Was an overseer of Bowdoin College from 1838 to 1876 and served as president of the board for sixteen years.
Served as chairman of the Winthrop board of selectmen from 1844 to 1848.
Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Whig and later as an Opposition Party member, serving from 1853 to 1857.
Chaired the Committee on Naval Affairs during the Thirty-fourth Congress.
Did not seek reelection in 1856 and resumed his law practice.
Died in Yarmouth, Maine, in 1876 and was interred in Maple Cemetery in Winthrop.