Benjamin Goodhue

Benjamin Goodhue
United States Senator
from Massachusetts
In office
June 11, 1796  November 8, 1800
Preceded by George Cabot
Succeeded by Jonathan Mason
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 10th district
In office
March 4, 1795  June 11, 1796
Preceded by District created
Succeeded by Samuel Sewall
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1793  March 3, 1795
Serving with Fisher Ames, Samuel Dexter, and Samuel Holten (General ticket)
Preceded by Fisher Ames
Succeeded by Theodore Sedgwick
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 2nd district
In office
March 4, 1789  March 3, 1793
Preceded by None
Succeeded by Dwight Foster
Theodore Sedgwick
Artemas Ward
William Lyman
(General ticket)
Personal details
Born (1748-09-20)September 20, 1748
Salem, Massachusetts
Died July 28, 1814(1814-07-28) (aged 65)
Salem, Massachusetts
Political party Federalist
Alma mater Harvard College
Occupation Merchant

Benjamin Goodhue (September 20, 1748  July 28, 1814) was a Representative and a Senator from Massachusetts. He supported the Patriot during the American Revolution, and was a strong member of the Federalist Party. He was described by contemporaries as a leading member of the so-called Essex Junto, a group of Massachusetts Federalists, most of whom were from Essex County.

Biography

Benjamin Goodhue was born in Salem, Massachusetts to Benjamin and Martha (Hardy) Goodue. His father was a blacksmith by trade, but later became a successful merchant. The younger Benjamin graduated from Harvard College in 1766 and joined his father in the merchant business. He remained active as a merchant during the American Revolutionary War, and was a member of the state constitutional conventions of 1779 and 1780, the latter one producing the present Constitution of Massachusetts. He then won election as a state representative to the inaugural Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1780, and was later elected to the state senate, serving in 1783 and 1786-1788. After adoption of the United States Constitution, Goodhue was elected to the First and to the three succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1789, until his resignation in June 1796.

Goodhue was a supporter of the strong central government, and joined the Federalist Party when it was organized. He was one of a number of prominent Federalists from Essex County that were described by John Hancock as the "Essex Junto". He was one of two Congressmen who drafted the nation's first revenue code. He served as chairman of the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures in the Fourth United States Congress. He was elected in 1796 to the United States Senate, filling a vacancy caused by the resignation of George Cabot. He was reelected and served from June 11, 1796, to November 8, 1800, when he resigned and retired from public service. He died in Salem on July 28, 1814.[1]

Legacy

Goodhue is buried in Salem's Broad Street Cemetery. A World War II Liberty ship was named in his honor.

References

External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
None; first in line
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district

March 4, 1789 March 3, 1793
Succeeded by
Dwight Foster, William Lyman, Theodore Sedgwick, Artemas Ward
Preceded by
Fisher Ames
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 1st congressional district

March 4, 1793 March 3, 1795
alongside: Fisher Ames, Samuel Dexter, and Samuel Holten on a General ticket
Succeeded by
Theodore Sedgwick
Preceded by
None; first in line
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 10th congressional district

March 4, 1795 June 1796
Succeeded by
Samuel Sewall
United States Senate
Preceded by
George Cabot
U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Massachusetts
17961800
Served alongside: Theodore Sedgwick, Samuel Dexter, Dwight Foster
Succeeded by
Jonathan Mason
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