Benjamin Tappan
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Tappan was an Ohio
judge and Democratic politician who served in the Ohio State Senate and the United States Senate
. He was an early settler of the Connecticut Western Reserve
in northeastern Ohio
and was one of the first settlers in Portage County
and the founder of the city of Ravenna
, Ohio
.
, the second child and oldest son of Benjamin Tappan and Sarah (Homes) Tappan, who was a grandniece of Benjamin Franklin
. Two of his younger brothers were abolitionists Arthur
and Lewis Tappan
. He attended the public schools in Northampton and traveled to the West Indies in his youth. He apprenticed as a printer and engraver, also studying painting with Gilbert Stuart
. He read law to be admitted to the bar in Hartford, Connecticut
, in 1799. Later that year, he moved to the Connecticut Western Reserve and founded what is now Ravenna
, Ohio
, laying out the original village in 1808.
He married, March 20, 1801, Nancy Wright, sister of John C. Wright
, afterwards a Congressman
from Ohio. They had one son, Benjamin, born in 1812.
, Jefferson County
, in 1809 where he continued his law practice.
After serving in the United States Army
during the War of 1812
, achieving the rank of Major, Tappan held a number of local offices. He served as county judge, judge of the fifth Ohio Circuit Court of Common Pleas from 1816 to 1823. His first wife having died, Benjamin was married a second time, in 1823, to Betsy (Lord) Frazer, the widow of Eliphalet Frazer. They had one son, Eli Todd Tappan
, later president of Kenyon College
.
Tappan was a Presidential elector on the Democratic ticket in 1832. On October 12, 1833, Tappan received a recess appointment
from newly re-elected President Andrew Jackson
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Ohio vacated by John Wilson Campbell
. Formally nominated on January 20, 1834, Tappan's service was terminated on May 29, 1834, after his nomination was not confirmed by the Senate.
d on May 10, 1844 for disclosing the terms of a secret message from President John Tyler
detailing the possible terms of the annexation of Texas
to the New York Evening Post
.
Tappan died April 20, 1857 in Steubenville, and was interred in Union Cemetery.
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
judge and Democratic politician who served in the Ohio State Senate and the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. He was an early settler of the Connecticut Western Reserve
Connecticut Western Reserve
The Connecticut Western Reserve was land claimed by Connecticut from 1662 to 1800 in the Northwest Territory in what is now northeastern Ohio.-History:...
in northeastern Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and was one of the first settlers in Portage County
Portage County, Ohio
Portage County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 152,061 at the 2000 Census and 161,419 at the 2010 Census. Its county seat is Ravenna. Portage County is named for the portage between the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas Rivers...
and the founder of the city of Ravenna
Ravenna, Ohio
* Chris Bangle; automobile designer* Bill Bower, last surviving pilot of the Doolittle Raid* David D. Busch; best-selling author* William Rufus Day; U.S. Supreme Court justice* Calvin Hampton; Classical organist* Robert B...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Early life, education, and career
Tappan was born in Northampton, MassachusettsNorthampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
, the second child and oldest son of Benjamin Tappan and Sarah (Homes) Tappan, who was a grandniece of Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
. Two of his younger brothers were abolitionists Arthur
Arthur Tappan
Arthur Tappan was an American abolitionist. He was the brother of Senator Benjamin Tappan, and abolitionist Lewis Tappan.-Biography:...
and Lewis Tappan
Lewis Tappan
Lewis Tappan was a New York abolitionist who worked to achieve the freedom of the illegally enslaved Africans of the Amistad. Contacted by Connecticut abolitionists soon after the Amistad arrived in port, Tappan focused extensively on the captive Africans...
. He attended the public schools in Northampton and traveled to the West Indies in his youth. He apprenticed as a printer and engraver, also studying painting with Gilbert Stuart
Gilbert Stuart
Gilbert Charles Stuart was an American painter from Rhode Island.Gilbert Stuart is widely considered to be one of America's foremost portraitists...
. He read law to be admitted to the bar in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, in 1799. Later that year, he moved to the Connecticut Western Reserve and founded what is now Ravenna
Ravenna, Ohio
* Chris Bangle; automobile designer* Bill Bower, last surviving pilot of the Doolittle Raid* David D. Busch; best-selling author* William Rufus Day; U.S. Supreme Court justice* Calvin Hampton; Classical organist* Robert B...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, laying out the original village in 1808.
He married, March 20, 1801, Nancy Wright, sister of John C. Wright
John C. Wright (congressman)
John Crafts Wright was a U.S. Representative from Ohio and a journalist. He was the brother-in-law of Benjamin Tappan, U.S...
, afterwards a Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Ohio. They had one son, Benjamin, born in 1812.
Political, military, and judicial activities
Elected to the second Ohio State Senate, Tappan served from 1803 to 1804. He moved to SteubenvilleSteubenville, Ohio
Steubenville is a city located along the Ohio River in Jefferson County, Ohio on the Ohio-West Virginia border in the United States. It is the political county seat of Jefferson County. It is also a principal city of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Ohio
Jefferson County is a county located in the state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 69,709. Its county seat is Steubenville and is named for Thomas Jefferson, who was at the time Vice President....
, in 1809 where he continued his law practice.
After serving in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
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...
, achieving the rank of Major, Tappan held a number of local offices. He served as county judge, judge of the fifth Ohio Circuit Court of Common Pleas from 1816 to 1823. His first wife having died, Benjamin was married a second time, in 1823, to Betsy (Lord) Frazer, the widow of Eliphalet Frazer. They had one son, Eli Todd Tappan
Eli Todd Tappan
Eli Todd Tappan was an American educator, mathematician, author, lawyer and newspaper editor who served as president of Kenyon College, among other public distinctions...
, later president of Kenyon College
Kenyon College
Kenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, founded in 1824 by Bishop Philander Chase of The Episcopal Church, in parallel with the Bexley Hall seminary. It is the oldest private college in Ohio...
.
Tappan was a Presidential elector on the Democratic ticket in 1832. On October 12, 1833, Tappan received a recess appointment
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
from newly re-elected President Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Ohio vacated by John Wilson Campbell
John Wilson Campbell
John Wilson Campbell was a U.S. Representative from Ohio, and a United States federal judge.Born near Miller's Iron Works, Augusta County, Virginia, Campbell attended the common schools.He taught school....
. Formally nominated on January 20, 1834, Tappan's service was terminated on May 29, 1834, after his nomination was not confirmed by the Senate.
United States Senate service
In 1838 he was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate, in which he served from 1839 to 1845. As senator he served on the Committee on the Library and was chairmain of the Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses. Tappan was censureCensure
A censure is an expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism. Among the forms that it can take are a stern rebuke by a legislature, a spiritual penalty imposed by a church, and a negative judgment pronounced on a theological proposition.-Politics:...
d on May 10, 1844 for disclosing the terms of a secret message from President John Tyler
John Tyler
John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States . A native of Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before being elected Vice President . He was the first to succeed to the office of President following the death of a predecessor...
detailing the possible terms of the annexation of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
to the New York Evening Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
.
Tappan died April 20, 1857 in Steubenville, and was interred in Union Cemetery.
Sources
- Daniel Langdon Tappan. Tappan-Toppan Genealogy, Arlington, Massachusetts, 1915, pp. 24–25.
- Brown, R. C. and Norris, J. E. History of Portage County Ohio, Chicago, Illinois, 1885, 1972 rev., pp. 521–522.