Benjamin T. Biggs

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Benjamin T. Biggs

Benjamin Thomas Biggs (born October 1, 1821 in New Castle County , Delaware , † December 25, 1893 in Middletown , Delaware) was an American politician and governor of the state of Delaware from 1887 to 1891 . Between 1869 and 1873 he represented his state in the US House of Representatives .

Early years and political advancement

Benjamin Biggs visited the Pennington Seminary in New Jersey and the Wesleyan University in Middletown ( Connecticut ). He was a major in the Delaware Militia during the Mexican-American War . But he did not take part in any fighting. He was then a teacher and peach grower in New Castle County.

Politically, Biggs was initially a member of the Whig Party . In 1852 he was a member of an assembly to revise the state constitution of Delaware. After his party disbanded in the 1850s, Biggs joined the Democrats . At that time in Delaware this party leaned more towards the politics of the southern states and was in sharp opposition to the Republicans . She advocated the preservation of slavery and state rights vis-à-vis the federal government. It was then that Biggs got into the railroad business and became director of the Kent & Queen Annes Railroad .

Congressman

In 1860, Biggs ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the House of Representatives in Washington , which instead went to George P. Fisher . Eight years later, however, he made it into Congress with an easy election victory over Republican Alfred Torbert . There he served two legislative terms until 1873 in the minority faction of his party. In 1872 he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention . He then took a political break until 1886. It was not until 1886 that he returned to the political stage as his party's candidate for the upcoming gubernatorial election.

Delaware Governor

He won the elections on November 2 of this year with 64% of the vote against James R. Hoffecker , who represented a prohibition movement . The Republicans did not even put up their own candidate because of the expected lack of opportunities. Biggs took up his new office on January 18, 1887. During his four-year tenure, a state mental hospital was founded. The school inspectorate was increased from two to three school councils and the insurance system was newly regulated by law. Other reform proposals by the governor remained in the legislature. During his reign, the Republican Party, which had been weak until then in Delaware, began to rise slowly and benefited from quarrels within the Democrats. For the first time she won a small majority in the Delaware House of Representatives .

After the end of his tenure on January 20, 1891, Biggs withdrew from politics and devoted himself to his private interests until his death in December 1893. The governor had five children with his wife, Mary Beekman.

literature

  • Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 1, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Biggs, Benjamin T.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Biggs, Benjamin Thomas (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician
DATE OF BIRTH October 1, 1821
PLACE OF BIRTH New Castle County , Delaware
DATE OF DEATH December 25, 1893
Place of death Middletown , Delaware