Benjamin F. Bonham
Encyclopedia
Benjamin F. Bonham was an American
educator, politician, and judge in Oregon
. He was the 9th Chief Justice
of the Oregon Supreme Court
, USA. Overall he was on Oregon
’s highest court from 1870 to 1876. Prior to joining the court he was in the Oregon Territorial Legislature
and the first State Legislature
. Later the Tennessee
native served as United States Consul General in Calcutta
, India
.
. His parent’s were John Bonham and the former Sarah Jones. Benjamin was raised in Knoxville and Muncie, Indiana
where he received his education at the local schools. After his own education he taught school in Indiana
. In 1853 he moved to the Oregon Territory
.
and in Salem
. During this time Bonham also studied law, and then joined the bar
in 1856. Beginning in 1858 he started his political career when he was elected to the Territorial Legislature
. Later that year he served in Oregon’s last Territorial Legislature as the citizens awaited statehood. Bonham was then elected to the state’s first legislature, serving as a Democrat from Marion County. Each time he served in the legislature, he served in the lower chamber House of Representatives
. In 1859, he married in Salem to Mildred A. Baker, and the couple would have seven children.
Next, in 1870 Benjamin Bonham was elected to the Oregon Supreme Court to replace Reuben P. Boise
, who would then replace Bonham six years later when Bonham’s term ended. While on the court Bonham served as chief justice from 1874 to 1876. Bonham narrowly lost to Boise by 18 votes after having a 44 vote lead at one point during the vote count.
appointed Bonham to be Consul General to British controlled India
at Calcutta. Later he returned to Salem where he served as postmaster from 1894 to 1898, and was a professor at Willamette University College of Law
. He then returned to the practice of law until he died in Salem on June 2, 1906.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator, politician, and judge in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. He was the 9th Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the Oregon Supreme Court
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States. The OSC holds court at the Oregon Supreme Court Building in Salem, Oregon, near the capitol...
, USA. Overall he was on Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
’s highest court from 1870 to 1876. Prior to joining the court he was in the Oregon Territorial Legislature
Oregon Territorial Legislature
Oregon’s Territorial Legislature was a bicameral legislative body created by the United States Congress in 1848 as the legislative branch of the government of the Oregon Territory...
and the first State Legislature
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
. Later the Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
native served as United States Consul General in Calcutta
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Early life
Benjamin F. Bonham was born October 8, 1828 near Knoxville, TennesseeKnoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
. His parent’s were John Bonham and the former Sarah Jones. Benjamin was raised in Knoxville and Muncie, Indiana
Muncie, Indiana
Muncie is a city in Center Township, Delaware County in east central Indiana, best known as the home of Ball State University and the birthplace of the Ball Corporation. It is the principal city of the Muncie, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 118,769...
where he received his education at the local schools. After his own education he taught school in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. In 1853 he moved to the Oregon Territory
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
.
Oregon
After arriving in Oregon he took up teaching again, this time at French PrairieFrench Prairie
French Prairie is a prairie located in Marion County, Oregon, United States, in the Willamette Valley between the Willamette River and the Pudding River, north of Salem...
and in Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
. During this time Bonham also studied law, and then joined the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1856. Beginning in 1858 he started his political career when he was elected to the Territorial Legislature
Oregon Territorial Legislature
Oregon’s Territorial Legislature was a bicameral legislative body created by the United States Congress in 1848 as the legislative branch of the government of the Oregon Territory...
. Later that year he served in Oregon’s last Territorial Legislature as the citizens awaited statehood. Bonham was then elected to the state’s first legislature, serving as a Democrat from Marion County. Each time he served in the legislature, he served in the lower chamber House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
. In 1859, he married in Salem to Mildred A. Baker, and the couple would have seven children.
Next, in 1870 Benjamin Bonham was elected to the Oregon Supreme Court to replace Reuben P. Boise
Reuben P. Boise
Reuben Patrick Boise was an American attorney, judge and politician in the Oregon Territory and the early years of the state of Oregon. A native of Massachusetts, he immigrated to Oregon in 1850, where he would twice serve on the Oregon Supreme Court for a total of 16 years, with three stints as...
, who would then replace Bonham six years later when Bonham’s term ended. While on the court Bonham served as chief justice from 1874 to 1876. Bonham narrowly lost to Boise by 18 votes after having a 44 vote lead at one point during the vote count.
Later years
In 1885, President Grover ClevelandGrover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
appointed Bonham to be Consul General to British controlled India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
at Calcutta. Later he returned to Salem where he served as postmaster from 1894 to 1898, and was a professor at Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law is a private law school located in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the Western United States...
. He then returned to the practice of law until he died in Salem on June 2, 1906.