Charles Swan Benton | |
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 17th district |
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In office March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1847 |
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Preceded by |
David P. Brewster (Seat A) John G. Floyd (Seat B) |
Succeeded by | George Petrie |
Personal details | |
Born |
July 12, 1810 Fryeburg, Oxford County, Maine |
Died |
May 4, 1882 (aged 71) La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin |
Citizenship | US |
Political party | Democratic Party |
Spouse(s) | Emeline Fuller Benton Elizabeth B. Reynolds Benton |
Children |
Linn B. Benton Charles R. Benton |
Profession | Editor Attorney Politician |
Charles Swan Benton (July 12, 1810 – May 4, 1882) was an American politician and a United States Representative from New York.
Born in Fryeburg, Oxford County, Maine, Benton was the son of Dr. Joseph and Catherine Benton and the brother of Nathaniel S. Benton. He pursued preparatory studies before moving to Herkimer County, New York in 1824 to live with an elder brother. Later, he attended Lowville Academy at Lowville, New York. Benton also learned the tanner’s trade, but left the trade and became the editor of the Mohawk Courier and the Little Falls Gazette from 1830 to 1832. During that time he also studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1835 and commenced practice at Little Falls, New York. He married Emeline Fuller in 1840 and they had one son, Linn Boyd Benton (named for his colleague Linn Boyd), who became an inventor and engineer, and co-founded the printing company American Type Founders. He married again in 1853 to Elizabeth B. Reynolds and they also had one son, Charles R. Benton.
Benton was Surrogate of Herkimer County from 1837 to 1841 and was also a judge advocate of the New York State Militia.
Elected as a Democrat to the 28th and 29th United States Congresses, Benton served as a U. S. Representative for the seventeenth district of New York from March 4, 1843, to March 3, 1847.
Benton was Clerk of the New York Court of Appeals from 1847 to 1853 having been elected in 1847 and 1850. He moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1855 and subsequently became editor of the Milwaukee News.