Fitzpatrick, Benjamin, 1802-1869

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United States Senator from Alabama.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : [Washington], to J. S. Black, 1857 Mar. 9. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270530796

Benjamin Fitzpatrick, son of William and Anne Phillips Fitzpatrick, was born 30 June 1802 in Greene County, Ga. In 1816, he moved to Alabama, where he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1823. He retired from the practice of law in 1827 due to ill health and became a successful planter on his estate Oak Grove in Autauga (now Elmore) County, a few miles from Montgomery. In 1827, he married Sarah Terry Elmore (1807-1837), member of a prominent Alabama family, and became a brother-in-law by marriage to Dixon Hall Lewis (1802-1848), a powerful states rights advocate in Congress from 1829 to 1848. In 1840, Fitzpatrick campaigned for Martin Van Buren, and was awarded with the Democratic Party's nomination for the governorship of Alabama. He was elected in 1841, and served two terms. In 1844, he retired once again to his Oak Grove plantation, but reentered politics when called upon to fill the U.S. Senate seat of Dixon Lewis, who died in 1848. In 1853, he was once again appointed to fill a U.S. Senate seat, this time that of William Rufus DuVane King, and he was elected for a full term in 1855. In 1860, he was nominated by the National Democratic Convention in Baltimore for vice-president on the Douglas ticket. He refused this nomination. He opposed secession, but supported the Confederate cause. After the outbreak of the Civil War, he retired once more to Oak Grove, where he died on 21 November 1869.

Benjamin Fitzpatrick had several children with Sarah Elmore: Elmore Joseph, Phillips (1830-1901), Morris, James Madison, and John Archer. In 1837, Sarah died, and, in 1846, Fitzpatrick married Aurelia Rachel Blassingame. Their only surviving child was Benjamin Fitzpatrick Jr. (1854-1892).

From the guide to the Benjamin Fitzpatrick Papers, 1819-1892, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Fitzpatrick, Benjamin, 1802-1869. Autograph letter signed : [Washington], to J. S. Black, 1857 Mar. 9. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Alabama. Governor (1841-1845 : Fitzpatrick). Extraditions and requisitions files, 1842-1845. Alabama Department of Archives and History
creatorOf Alabama. Governor (1841-1845 : Fitzpatrick). Pardons, paroles and clemency files, 1841-1845. Alabama Department of Archives and History
creatorOf Bliss, Robert Lewis. Miscellaneous microfilm collection, undated, [microform]. Alabama Department of Archives and History
referencedIn Bagby, Arthur P. (Arthur Pendleton), 1794-1858. Letters, 1842-1849. Alabama Department of Archives and History
creatorOf Alabama. Governor (1837-1841 : Bagby). Pardons, paroles, and clemency files, 1837-1841. Alabama Department of Archives and History
creatorOf Fitzpatrick, Benjamin, 1802-1869. Benjamin Fitzpatrick papers, 1819-1892 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Fox, John, 1805-1884. John Fox papers, 1784-1892. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn McDonald, Charles James, 1793-1860. Charles James McDonald letters, 1842-1848. Georgia Historical Society
creatorOf Alabama. Secretary of State. Administrative Division. Constitution of 1865, 1865. Alabama Department of Archives and History
referencedIn McDonald, Charles James, 1793-1860. Charles James McDonald papers, 1834-1854. Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
creatorOf Benjamin Fitzpatrick Papers, 1819-1892 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
creatorOf Alabama. Governor (1841-1845 : Fitzpatrick). Militia files, 1841-1845. Alabama Department of Archives and History
referencedIn Glick, Nathan H. (Nathan Harold), 1912-. Pen and ink drawings, [199--]-[1993]. Alabama Department of Archives and History
creatorOf Alabama. Governor (1841-1845 : Fitzpatrick). Reward files, 1842-1845. Alabama Department of Archives and History
creatorOf Alabama. Bank of the State of Alabama. Branch of the Bank of the State of Alabama at Mobile. Minute books, 1833-1851. Alabama Department of Archives and History
creatorOf Alabama. Bank of the State of Alabama. Branch of the Bank of the State of Alabama at Mobile. Records, 1833-1860. Alabama Department of Archives and History
creatorOf Alabama. Bank of the State of Alabama. Branch of the Bank of the State of Alabama at Huntsville. Minute books, 1835-1848. Alabama Department of Archives and History
creatorOf Browne, William Phineas, 1804-1869. Family papers, 1804-1935. Alabama Department of Archives and History
referencedIn Georgia. Governor (1838-1842 : McDonald). Governor Charles J. McDonald letters, 1840-1845.
referencedIn Weather Bureau National Archives at College Park
creatorOf King, William R. (William Rufus), 1786-1853. Family papers, 1714-1964. Alabama Department of Archives and History
creatorOf Alabama. Bank of the State of Alabama. Branch of the Bank of the State of Alabama at Montgomery. Minute books, 1832-1843. Alabama Department of Archives and History
creatorOf Alabama. Governor (1841-1845 : Fitzpatrick). Administrative files, 1841-1845. Alabama Department of Archives and History
creatorOf Clay, Clement Claiborne, Jr. 1816-1882. Autograph letter signed : Washington, to the President, 1854 May 30. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889. Autograph letter signed : Washington, D.C., to John Young Mason, n.p., 1848 Dec. 27. Texas Christian University
referencedIn Brickell, Mary. Letter, 1932. Alabama Department of Archives and History
creatorOf Alabama. Governor (1857-1861 : A.B. Moore). Administrative files, 1857-1861. Alabama Department of Archives and History
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Alabama. Bank of the State of Alabama. Branch of the Bank of the State of Alabama at Huntsville. corporateBody
associatedWith Alabama. Bank of the State of Alabama. Branch of the Bank of the State of Alabama at Mobile. corporateBody
associatedWith Alabama. Bank of the State of Alabama. Branch of the Bank of the State of Alabama at Mobile. corporateBody
associatedWith Alabama. Bank of the State of Alabama. Branch of the Bank of the State of Alabama at Montgomery. corporateBody
associatedWith Alabama. Governor (1837-1841 : Bagby) corporateBody
associatedWith Alabama. Governor (1841-1845 : Fitzpatrick). corporateBody
associatedWith Alabama. Governor (1857-1861 : A.B. Moore). corporateBody
associatedWith Alabama. Secretary of State. Administrative Division. corporateBody
associatedWith Bagby, Arthur P. (Arthur Pendleton), 1794-1858. person
associatedWith Black, Jeremiah S. (Jeremiah Sullivan), 1810-1883, person
associatedWith Brickell, Mary. person
associatedWith Browne, William Phineas, 1804-1869. person
associatedWith Clay, Clement Claiborne, Jr. 1816-1882. person
associatedWith Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889 person
associatedWith Democratic National Convention (1860 : Baltimore, Md.) corporateBody
associatedWith Democratic Party (Ala.) corporateBody
associatedWith Democratic Party (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Fitzpatrick, Aurelia Blassingame, fl. 1840-1879. person
associatedWith Fitzpatrick, Benjamin, 1854-1892. person
associatedWith Fitzpatrick family. family
associatedWith Fox, John, 1805-1884. person
correspondedWith Georgia. Governor (1838-1842 : McDonald) corporateBody
associatedWith Glick, Nathan H. (Nathan Harold), 1912- person
associatedWith Greene Springs School corporateBody
correspondedWith Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878 person
associatedWith King, William R. (William Rufus), 1786-1853. person
associatedWith Lewis, Dixon Hall, 1802-1848. person
associatedWith McDonald, Charles James, 1793-1860. person
associatedWith Tutwiler, Henry, 1807-1884. person
associatedWith United States. Congress corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Texas
Oak Grove Plantation (Autauga County, Ala.)
Elmore County (Ala.)
United States
Autauga County (Ala.)
Alabama
Alabama--Autauga County
Subject
Slavery
Elections
Governors
Lawyers
Mothers and sons
Plantations
Political conventions
Politicians
Presidents
School prose, American
Scientific publications
Slave bills of sale
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1802-06-30

Death 1869-11-21

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