James Davenport (congressman)

James Davenport (October 12, 1758–August 3, 1797) was an American lawyer and politician from Stamford, Connecticut. He represented Connecticut in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1796 and 1797. He graduated from Yale College in 1777, and served in the commissary department of the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War. He served as judge of the court of common pleas, was member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, served in the Connecticut State Senate, was judge of Fairfield County Court from 1792 until 1796, and was elected as a Federalist to the Fourth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James Hillhouse. He was reelected to the Fifth Congress and served from December 5, 1796, until his death in Stamford on August 3, 1797. His interment was in North Field (now Franklin Street) Cemetery. His uncle, also James Davenport was a noted clergyman, and his brother John Davenport followed him in the U.S. Congress.