James Lanman
Encyclopedia
James Lanman was an American
lawyer and politician from Connecticut
who served in the United States Senate
.
and Sarah Coit Lanman. The first of many generations of Lanmans who attended what is now known as Yale University
, James Lanman pursued classical studies and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Yale College
in 1788. Lanman studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1791, beginning his practice in his hometown of Norwich
"where he acquired great local distinction for his eloquence and general ability". We get an interesting glimpse of James Lanman as a young man of 20 through the diary of John Quincy Adams
, who was two years his senior and rode with him on a stage from Boston to Providence on September 8, 1789: "I had two companions; one a Mr. Wright from North Carolina
, and the other a young man from Connecticut
by the name of Lanman. We were tolerably sociable. Lanman sung a number of songs of his own accord, and sung very well. But, upon being requested by Mr. Wright to continue, he altogether denied that he could sing at all." When his father, shipping magnate Peter Lanman, died in 1804, James inherited and moved into his childhood home, the now historic "Peter Lanman House" on Main Street, for the rest of his life. A nearby tavern (now the Norwich Savings Society) at "Peter Lanman's Corner", at Main and Broadway in Norwich, is of interest because George Washington
stayed there in 1775.
James Lanman married Marian Chandler on May 18, 1794 and had four sons and eight daughters. Widowed in 1817, Lanman married his second wife, Mary Judith (Gall) Benjamin, on October 26, 1826. He had no children by his second marriage.
Lanman was known as the last Senator to wear a powdered wig, ruffled shirts and knee breeches. His grandson, Charles Lanman
, private secretary to Daniel Webster
, said that, "My grandfather, James Lanman, voted with the South on the Missouri Compromise
and was burned in effigy in his native town, Norwich
, but his broad patriotism won from him the warmest friendship of Henry Clay
and Thomas H. Benton
."
independence in 1798.
While Mayor of Norwich, Lanman gave a speech commemorating the centennial anniversary of George Washington
's birthday on March 1, 1832 entitled "A Discourse, Addressed to the Citizens of Norwich", which reviews Washington's military and civic contributions to the founding of the United States
.
Lanman died in Norwich, Connecticut
at age 75 and is interred in the City Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer and politician from Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
who served in 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...
.
Early life and education
James Lanman was the eldest of the seven children of Peter Lanman Jr., of Norwich, ConnecticutNorwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
and Sarah Coit Lanman. The first of many generations of Lanmans who attended what is now known as Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, James Lanman pursued classical studies and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
in 1788. Lanman studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1791, beginning his practice in his hometown of Norwich
Norwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
"where he acquired great local distinction for his eloquence and general ability". We get an interesting glimpse of James Lanman as a young man of 20 through the diary of John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
, who was two years his senior and rode with him on a stage from Boston to Providence on September 8, 1789: "I had two companions; one a Mr. Wright from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, and the other a young man from Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
by the name of Lanman. We were tolerably sociable. Lanman sung a number of songs of his own accord, and sung very well. But, upon being requested by Mr. Wright to continue, he altogether denied that he could sing at all." When his father, shipping magnate Peter Lanman, died in 1804, James inherited and moved into his childhood home, the now historic "Peter Lanman House" on Main Street, for the rest of his life. A nearby tavern (now the Norwich Savings Society) at "Peter Lanman's Corner", at Main and Broadway in Norwich, is of interest because George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
stayed there in 1775.
James Lanman married Marian Chandler on May 18, 1794 and had four sons and eight daughters. Widowed in 1817, Lanman married his second wife, Mary Judith (Gall) Benjamin, on October 26, 1826. He had no children by his second marriage.
Public Office
He was elected to the State house of representatives in 1817, as a delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1818, then to the State senate in 1819. Lanman was elected to the United States Senate as a Democratic Republican (later Crawford Republican) and served from March 4, 1819, to March 3, 1825. As a Senator he chaired the Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses (Seventeenth Congress), The Committee on Engrossed Bills (Seventeenth and Eighteenth Congresses), and the Committee on Post Office and Post Roads (Eighteenth Congress). Lanman was a judge of the State superior and supreme courts from 1826–1829 and the mayor of Norwich from 1831-1834.Lanman was known as the last Senator to wear a powdered wig, ruffled shirts and knee breeches. His grandson, Charles Lanman
Charles Lanman
Charles Lanman was an author, government official, artist, librarian, and explorer.-Early life and education:Charles Lanman was born at Monroe, Michigan, on June 14, 1819, the son of Charles James Lanman, and the grandson of United States Senator James Lanman...
, private secretary to Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster was a leading American statesman and senator from Massachusetts during the period leading up to the Civil War. He first rose to regional prominence through his defense of New England shipping interests...
, said that, "My grandfather, James Lanman, voted with the South on the Missouri Compromise
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was an agreement passed in 1820 between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the United States Congress, involving primarily the regulation of slavery in the western territories. It prohibited slavery in the former Louisiana Territory north of the parallel 36°30'...
and was burned in effigy in his native town, Norwich
Norwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
, but his broad patriotism won from him the warmest friendship of Henry Clay
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, Sr. , was a lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky separately in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives...
and Thomas H. Benton
Thomas Hart Benton (senator)
Thomas Hart Benton , nicknamed "Old Bullion", was a U.S. Senator from Missouri and a staunch advocate of westward expansion of the United States. He served in the Senate from 1821 to 1851, becoming the first member of that body to serve five terms...
."
Notable Orations
Lanman published a notable Fourth of July address to the citizens of Norwich on the 22nd anniversary of United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
independence in 1798.
While Mayor of Norwich, Lanman gave a speech commemorating the centennial anniversary of George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's birthday on March 1, 1832 entitled "A Discourse, Addressed to the Citizens of Norwich", which reviews Washington's military and civic contributions to the founding of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Lanman died in Norwich, Connecticut
Norwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
at age 75 and is interred in the City Cemetery.