Benjamin Howland was a United States Senator from Rhode Island

Rhode Island

The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...

. Born in Tiverton, he attended the common schools, engaged in agricultural pursuits, was collector of taxes in 1801, town auditor in 1802, and town moderator

Moderator (town official)

A moderator is an official of an incorporated town who presides over the town meeting, and in some cases, other municipal meetings. In the United States, the area of the country best known for the town meeting form of government is New England. The office of moderator exists in at least Connecticut...

 in 1805. He was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives

Rhode Island House of Representatives

The Rhode Island House of Representatives is the lower house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. State of Rhode Island. It is composed of 75 members, elected to two year terms from 75 districts of equal population. The Rhode Island General Assembly does not have...

 in 1810 and a general in the State militia during the War of 1812

War of 1812

The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...

.

Howland was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Samuel J. Potter

Samuel J. Potter

Samuel John Potter was a United States Senator from Rhode Island and was a prominent Country Party anti-Federalist leader....

and served from October 29, 1804, until March 4, 1809. He died in Tiverton in 1821; interment was in the family lot on his estate.