Benjamin Bourne

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Benjamin Bourne (September 9, 1755 – September 17, 1808) was an American lawyer, jurist, and politician from Bristol, Rhode Island. He represented Rhode Island in the U.S. House of Representatives and served as a judge in both the federal district and federal appellate courts.

Borurne was born in Bristol and graduated from Harvard College in 1775. He studied law and began practice in Providence. During the Revolutionary War, he served as ensign, then quartermaster of the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment in 1776.

After the war, Bourne began his political life as a member of the Rhode Island general assembly in 1789 and 1790. In 1799, Bourne was appointed to a committee to revise the state's militia laws. From 1783 to 1784, Bourne collected excise tax for Providence County. Then, between 1785 and 1789, he served as Justice of the Peace in Providence County. Bourne served on the federalist (pro-Constitution) committee which negotiated an end to William West's armed anti-federalist protest on July 4, 1788. In 1789, with the Reverend James Manning, Bourne petitioned Congress regarding relief from import duties imposed upon Rhode Island as a foreign nation.

After Rhode Island ratified the Constitution, Bourne was elected as Pro-Administration to the First through Third Congresses and as a Federalist to the Fourth and Fifth Congresses. He resigned before the fifth Congress began, however.

Upon returning to Rhode Island, Bourne was first appointed judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island in 1801 and, then judge of the United States Circuit Court for the First Circuit.

Bourne died in Bristol, and is buried in the Juniper Hill Cemetery there.

[edit] External links

• Benjamin Bourne Papers, Rhode Island Historical Society
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

Preceded by (none)	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island August 31, 1790 – 1796	Succeeded by Elisha Reynolds Potter
Preceded by Henry Marchant	Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island 1796 – 1802	Succeeded by David Leonard Barnes
Preceded by Created	Chief Judge of the U.S. Circuit Court for the First Circuit 1801 – 1802	Succeeded by Abolished