Benjamin Stark
| Benjamin Stark | |
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United States Senator from Oregon |
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In office October 29, 1861 – September 12, 1862 |
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| Preceded by | Edward Dickinson Baker |
| Succeeded by | Benjamin F. Harding |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
June 26, 1820 New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Died | October 10, 1898 (aged 78) New London, Connecticut |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Molthrop |
| Profession | attorney, merchant |
Benjamin Stark (June 26, 1820 – October 10, 1898) was an American merchant and politician in Oregon. A native of Louisiana, he purchased some of the original tracts of land for the city of Portland. He later served in the Oregon House of Representatives before appointment to the United States Senate in 1860 after the death of Edward D. Baker. A Democrat, Stark served in the Senate from 1861 to 1862. He later served in the Connecticut House of Representatives.
Benjamin Stark was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on June 26, 1820. His family moved to Connecticut where he graduated from Union School in New London after studying the classics. Stark then graduated from the Hebron Academy in Maine. From 1835 to 1845 he engaged in mercantile pursuits in New York City and read law.
In 1845, he sailed to what became Portland, Oregon, as the supercargo (cargo supervisor) of the Toulon, bringing goods for Francis Pettygrove's warehouse.
In 1846, he purchased half of Asa Lovejoy's 640 acres (2.6 km2) making up the original claim to the future city for $390 in cash. Stark bought the land for speculation rather than as a home or commercial property, and so he continued sailing as a merchant and visited the claim only occasionally. Despite often being absent on business, Stark was a civic leader in early Portland. For example, he led the city Freemasons, membership in which was a status symbol at the time.
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