Huntington, Benjamin, 1736-1800

HUNTINGTON, Benjamin, a Delegate and a Representative from Connecticut; born in Norwich, Conn., April 19, 1736; pursued academic studies; was graduated from Yale College in 1761; appointed surveyor of lands for Windham County in October 1764; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1765 and commenced practice in Norwich; member of the State house of representatives 1771-1780 and served as speaker in 1778 and 1779; clerk of the State house of representatives in 1776 and 1777; delegate to the Provincial Congress at New Haven in January 1778; Member of the Continental Congress 1780, 1782, 1783, and 1788; member of the State senate 1781-1790 and 1791-1793; mayor of Norwich from 1784 to 1796, when he resigned; elected as a Pro-Administration candidate to the First Congress (March 4, 1789-March 3, 1791); judge of the superior court of the State 1793-1798; died in Rome, N.Y., October 16, 1800; interment in Old Colony Cemetery, Norwich, Conn.

<p>Benjamin Huntington (April 19, 1736 – October 16, 1800) was an eighteenth-century American lawyer, jurist and politician from Connecticut and served as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives during the First United States Congress.</p>

<p>Huntington was born in Norwich in the Connecticut Colony, the only child of Daniel Huntington and his second wife Rachel (Wolcott) Huntington. He graduated from Yale College in 1761 and was appointed surveyor of lands for Windham County in October 1764. Huntington studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1765. He began the practice of law in Norwich. Yale College later bestowed an LL.D upon Huntington.</p>

<p>Huntington served as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1771 to 1780 and served as speaker of that body in 1778 and 1779. In 1775 he served on the committee of safety in the State House and was appointed to advise with Governor Jonathan Trumbull during the recess of the legislature. In 1778 Huntington was appointed a delegate to the Provincial Congress at New Haven.</p>

<ul><b>RACES</b>
<li>09/17/1792 CT At Large Won 10.57% (-2.47%)</li>
<li>12/16/1790 CT At-Large Lost 13.24% (-35.35%)</li>
<li>09/20/1790 CT At-Large Lost 6.90% (-8.03%)</li>
<li>12/22/1788 CT At-Large Won 20.00% (+0.00%)</li>
<li>12/31/1787 CT Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>12/31/1782 CT Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>12/31/1781 CT Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>12/31/1779 CT Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
</ul>