Franklin Davenport | |
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 5th district |
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In office March 4, 1799 – March 3, 1801 |
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Preceded by | District created |
Succeeded by | William Wright |
United States Senator from New Jersey |
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In office December 5, 1798 – March 4, 1799 |
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Preceded by | John Rutherfurd |
Succeeded by | James Schureman |
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly | |
In office 1786-1789 |
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Personal details | |
Born | September 1755 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Died | July 27, 1832 Woodbury, New Jersey |
(aged 76)
Political party | Federalist |
Franklin Davenport (September 1755 – July 27, 1832) was a Federalist Party United States Senator and US Representative from New Jersey.
Davenport was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and his uncle was Benjamin Franklin. He received an academic education; studied law in Burlington, New Jersey; admitted to the New Jersey State Bar in 1776 and commenced practice in Gloucester City, New Jersey. He was the clerk of Gloucester County Court in 1776; during the American Revolutionary War he enlisted as a private in the New Jersey Militia, later becoming brigade major, then brigade quartermaster, and in 1778 assistant quartermaster for Gloucester County. he was appointed colonel in the New Jersey Militia in 1779 and subsequently major general, which rank he held until his death; prosecutor of pleas in 1777.
He moved to Woodbury, New Jersey in 1781 and continued the practice of law; appointed first surrogate of Gloucester County in 1785; member of the New Jersey General Assembly from 1786–1789; colonel in the New Jersey Line during the Whiskey Insurrection of 1794; appointed brigadier general of Gloucester County Militia in 1796; appointed to the United States Senate as a Federalist to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Rutherfurd, and served from December 5, 1798, to March 4, 1799, when a successor was elected and qualified.