Benson Leavitt
Encyclopedia
Benson Leavitt was a Boston, Massachusetts
, businessman, born in New Hampshire
, who served as an Alderman
of Boston, and later as Acting Mayor after the incumbent became incapacitated and died while in office.
Benson Leavitt was born at Hampton Falls, New Hampshire
, on June 21, 1797, the son of land surveyor Thomas and his wife Hannah (Melcher) Leavitt. Thomas Leavitt helped establish the Democratic party in New Hampshire, and helped lay out some towns in the northern part of the state. Later, under President Andrew Jackson
, the Democratic party came to control Hampton Falls, and Thomas Leavitt was chosen Town Clerk.
In 1814, when Thomas Leavitt's son Benson was 17 years old, the future mayor served with 40 men from Hampton Falls who marched to Portsmouth, New Hampshire
, then under threat of attack by British forces during the War of 1812
. Benson Leavitt later married Abigail Ward, born at Hampton Falls in 1801, daughter of Capt. Thomas and Abigail (Garland) Ward.
Benson Leavitt and his wife subsequently removed to Boston, where he was a merchant, often trading with other merchants in New Hampshire and where he was elected an Alderman
. Leavitt operated Leavitt & Company, fish traders, at a warehouse at Boston's Philadelphia Packet Pier.
Leavitt also served as a director of the Granite Bank, a founder of the Fishing Insurance Company and for several years was a Representative to the Massachusetts General Court
from Suffolk County
, where he was a member of the Joint Committee on Fisheries. Leavitt also served on the Boston Board of School Committee for many years.
Leavitt later served as chairman of the Board of Aldermen and – briefly – as Acting Mayor of the city after Mayor Thomas Aspinwall Davis became ill and died while in office.
On October 1, 1845, Mayor Thomas Aspinwall Davis wrote Board of Aldermen chairman Benson Leavitt from his home in Brookline
. "Believing that time and care would restore my strength", Davis wrote, "I persevered in the hope that I might complete the term for which I was elected. But Providence has seen fit to order otherwise, and I find myself now, by great prostration of strength, quite unfit for service of any kind, either public or private. Under these circumstances it is a duty which I owe to the City as well as myself, to resign the office of Mayor."
But despite Davis's offer to resign, Boston City Council rejected the resignation, and the Mayor was forced to remain in office until his death on November 22, 1845. Benson Leavitt was subsequently named acting mayor.
Benson Leavitt was the uncle of author and reformer Franklin B. Sanborn, who recalled visiting his uncle Benson at his home across the street from Rev. Dr. Edward Beecher
's home in Boston's North End. (Rev. Beecher and Benson Leavitt frequently served on boards together, including that of the Boston School Committee). On the visit, Sanborn made the acquaintance of Beecher's sister Harriet Beecher Stowe
, who was "fresh from her success in Uncle Tom's Cabin
".
Leavitt served as acting mayor
of Boston, Massachusetts from November 22, 1845 to December 11, 1845. He was succeeded by Mayor Josiah Quincy, Jr.
, who occupied the Mayor's office from December 11, 1845, until January 1849. Benson Leavitt died at Watertown, Massachusetts
, on June 1, 1869. He was survived by a daughter Emily Wilder Leavitt
, a professional genealogist.
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, businessman, born in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, who served as an Alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of Boston, and later as Acting Mayor after the incumbent became incapacitated and died while in office.
Benson Leavitt was born at Hampton Falls, New Hampshire
Hampton Falls, New Hampshire
Hampton Falls is a New England town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,236 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, on June 21, 1797, the son of land surveyor Thomas and his wife Hannah (Melcher) Leavitt. Thomas Leavitt helped establish the Democratic party in New Hampshire, and helped lay out some towns in the northern part of the state. Later, under 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...
, the Democratic party came to control Hampton Falls, and Thomas Leavitt was chosen Town Clerk.
In 1814, when Thomas Leavitt's son Benson was 17 years old, the future mayor served with 40 men from Hampton Falls who marched to Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
, then under threat of attack by British forces 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...
. Benson Leavitt later married Abigail Ward, born at Hampton Falls in 1801, daughter of Capt. Thomas and Abigail (Garland) Ward.
Benson Leavitt and his wife subsequently removed to Boston, where he was a merchant, often trading with other merchants in New Hampshire and where he was elected an Alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
. Leavitt operated Leavitt & Company, fish traders, at a warehouse at Boston's Philadelphia Packet Pier.
Leavitt also served as a director of the Granite Bank, a founder of the Fishing Insurance Company and for several years was a Representative to the Massachusetts General Court
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
from Suffolk County
Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Suffolk County has no land border with Plymouth County to its southeast, but the two counties share a water boundary in the middle of Massachusetts Bay.-National protected areas:*Boston African American National Historic Site...
, where he was a member of the Joint Committee on Fisheries. Leavitt also served on the Boston Board of School Committee for many years.
Leavitt later served as chairman of the Board of Aldermen and – briefly – as Acting Mayor of the city after Mayor Thomas Aspinwall Davis became ill and died while in office.
On October 1, 1845, Mayor Thomas Aspinwall Davis wrote Board of Aldermen chairman Benson Leavitt from his home in Brookline
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
. "Believing that time and care would restore my strength", Davis wrote, "I persevered in the hope that I might complete the term for which I was elected. But Providence has seen fit to order otherwise, and I find myself now, by great prostration of strength, quite unfit for service of any kind, either public or private. Under these circumstances it is a duty which I owe to the City as well as myself, to resign the office of Mayor."
But despite Davis's offer to resign, Boston City Council rejected the resignation, and the Mayor was forced to remain in office until his death on November 22, 1845. Benson Leavitt was subsequently named acting mayor.
Benson Leavitt was the uncle of author and reformer Franklin B. Sanborn, who recalled visiting his uncle Benson at his home across the street from Rev. Dr. Edward Beecher
Edward Beecher
Edward Beecher was a noted theologian, the son of Lyman Beecher and the brother of Harriet Beecher Stowe and Henry Ward Beecher. He was born August 27, 1803 in East Hampton, New York. He graduated from Yale College in 1822. After this he studied theology at Andover. In 1826, he became the pastor...
's home in Boston's North End. (Rev. Beecher and Benson Leavitt frequently served on boards together, including that of the Boston School Committee). On the visit, Sanborn made the acquaintance of Beecher's sister Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe was an American abolitionist and author. Her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin was a depiction of life for African-Americans under slavery; it reached millions as a novel and play, and became influential in the United States and United Kingdom...
, who was "fresh from her success in Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in 1852, the novel "helped lay the groundwork for the Civil War", according to Will Kaufman....
".
Leavitt served as acting mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Boston, Massachusetts from November 22, 1845 to December 11, 1845. He was succeeded by Mayor Josiah Quincy, Jr.
Josiah Quincy, Jr.
Josiah Quincy, Jr. was mayor of Boston , as was his father Josiah Quincy III and grandson Josiah Quincy . He was the author of Figures in the Past . As a member of the Massachusetts State Legislature in 1837, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Massachusetts Board of Education...
, who occupied the Mayor's office from December 11, 1845, until January 1849. Benson Leavitt died at Watertown, Massachusetts
Watertown, Massachusetts
The Town of Watertown is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,915 at the 2010 census.- History :Archeological evidence suggests that Watertown was inhabited for thousands of years before the arrival of settlers from England...
, on June 1, 1869. He was survived by a daughter Emily Wilder Leavitt
Emily Wilder Leavitt
Emily Wilder Leavitt of Boston, Massachusetts, who doubled as an historian and professional genealogist, was one of the first female members of the New England Historic Genealogical Society...
, a professional genealogist.
External links
See also
- Emily Wilder LeavittEmily Wilder LeavittEmily Wilder Leavitt of Boston, Massachusetts, who doubled as an historian and professional genealogist, was one of the first female members of the New England Historic Genealogical Society...
- Franklin Benjamin SanbornFranklin Benjamin SanbornFranklin Benjamin Sanborn was an American journalist, author, and reformer. Sanborn was a social scientist, and a memorialist of American transcendentalism who wrote early biographies of many of the movement's key figures...