Benjamin Fitzpatrick
| Benjamin Fitzpatrick | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Senator from Alabama | |
|
In office November 25, 1848 – November 30, 1849 January 14, 1853 – March 3, 1855 November 26, 1855 – January 21, 1861 | |
| Preceded by |
Dixon H. Lewis William R. King Benjamin Fitzpatrick |
| Succeeded by |
Jeremiah Clemens Benjamin Fitzpatrick George E. Spencer |
| 11th Governor of Alabama | |
|
In office November 22, 1841 – December 10, 1845 | |
| Preceded by | Arthur P. Bagby |
| Succeeded by | Joshua L. Martin |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
June 30, 1802 Greene County, Georgia, US |
| Died |
November 21, 1869 (aged 67) Wetumpka, Alabama, US |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) |
Sarah Terry Elmore Aurelia Blassingame |
| Profession | Politician, Lawyer |
Benjamin Fitzpatrick (June 30, 1802 – November 21, 1869) was the 11th Governor of the U.S. state of Alabama and a United States Senator from Alabama. He was a Democrat.
Early years
Born in Greene County, Georgia, Fitzpatrick was orphaned at the age of seven and was taken by his sister (Celia Fitzpatrick Baldwin) to Alabama in 1815.
Fitzpatrick helped his brothers manage land they owned on the Alabama River, and served as deputy under the first sheriff of Autauga County. He worked in the law office of Nimrod E. Benson before he was admitted to the bar.[1]
Fitzpatrick studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1821, commencing practice in Montgomery, Alabama. Fitzpatrick served as solicitor of the Montgomery circuit from 1822 to 1823, but moved to his plantation in Autauga County in 1829 and engaged in planting.
Governor of Alabama
Fitzpatrick became Governor of Alabama in 1841, serving until 1845, and was appointed as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Dixon H. Lewis and served from November 25, 1848, to November 30, 1849, when a successor was elected.
He was again appointed on January 14, 1853 and subsequently elected (on December 12, 1853[2])to the Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of William R. King (who had been elected Vice President of the United States) and served from January 14, 1853 to March 3, 1855. He served in this Congress as Chairman of the Committee on Printing and the Committee on Engrossed Bills. He was elected to the Senate again to fill the vacancy caused by the failure of the legislature to elect his own successor on November 26, 1855. In this role he served several times as President pro tempore of the Senate.
Failure of state banks
The country was plagued by economic depression as a result of the Panic of 1837. Fitzpatrick's predecessor, Governor Arthur P. Bagby introduced measures to assist the state banks but the state legislature rejected most of the measures. All the state banks were closed by Fitzpatrick.[3]
Vice President nomination
In 1860, Fitzpatrick was nominated for vice president of the United States by the wing of the Democratic Party that had nominated Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois for President, but refused the nomination, and ultimately Herschel V. Johnson of Georgia was nominated in his stead. Fitzpatrick withdrew from the Senate on January 21, 1861, following the secession of his home state.
Confederacy
Fitzpatrick did not take a particularly active role in the politics of the Confederacy, but did serve as president of the constitutional convention of Alabama in 1865.
Fitzpatrick died on his plantation near Wetumpka, Alabama, on November 21, 1869, aged 67.
References
- ↑ "Benjamin Fitzpatrick". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
- ↑ Byrd, Robert C.; Wolff, Wendy (October 1, 1993). "The Senate, 1789-1989: Historical Statistics, 1789-1992" (volume 4 Bicentennial ed.). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 164.
- ↑ "Arthur Pendleton Bagby". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
External links
- United States Congress. "Benjamin Fitzpatrick (id: F000174)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Benjamin Fitzpatrick at Find A Grave
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Arthur P. Bagby |
Governor of Alabama 1841–1845 |
Succeeded by Joshua L. Martin |
| United States Senate | ||
| Preceded by Dixon H. Lewis |
U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Alabama November 25, 1848 – November 30, 1849 Served alongside: William R. King |
Succeeded by Jeremiah Clemens |
| Preceded by Benjamin Fitzpatrick |
U.S. Senator (Class 3) from Alabama January 14, 1853 – January 21, 1861 Served alongside: Clement C. Clay |
Succeeded by George E. Spencer(1) |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by Thomas J. Rusk |
President pro tempore of the United States Senate December 7, 1857 – February 26, 1860 |
Succeeded by Jesse D. Bright |
| Preceded by Jesse D. Bright |
President pro tempore of the United States Senate June 26, 1860 – December 2, 1860 |
Succeeded by Solomon Foot |
| Notes and references | ||
| 1. Because of Alabama's secession, the Senate seat was vacant for seven years before Spencer succeeded Fitzpatrick. | ||
| Class 2 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 3 | ||
