Benjamin Champneys

Not to be confused with the painter Benjamin Champney.
Benjamin Champneys

Portrait by Jacob Eichholtz, c.1830
Pennsylvania State Senator
In office
1843  46, 1863  66
Pennsylvania State Representative
In office
1825  26, 1828  29, 1863
Attorney General of Pennsylvania
In office
December 18, 1846  July 31, 1848
Preceded by John M. Read
Succeeded by James Cooper
Personal details
Born (1800-01-00)January , 1800
Bridgeton, New Jersey
Died August 9, 1871(1871-08-09) (aged 71)
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Spouse(s) Elizabeth Bachman
Alma mater Princeton College
Occupation Judge, lawyer, legislator

Benjamin Champneys (January, 1800  August 9, 1871) was a Pennsylvania lawyer and judge, who served terms in both houses of the state legislature and as state Attorney General.

Life and career

Champneys was born in 1800, the son of Dr. Benjamin Champneys, a surgeon who served in the Navy, and Sarah Potter. The family lived in Bridgeton, New Jersey, and Champneys attended Princeton College for two years, but withdrew upon the death of his father in 1814. He studied law in Trenton and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he was admitted to the bar in 1818.

Champneys married Elizabeth Bachman in 1821.[1] A daughter, Elizabeth, would marry a same-named great-grandson of William Augustus Atlee.

As a Democrat, he was twice elected to the state House in 1825 and 1828. He served as Deputy Attorney General for Lancaster County, 183033, and President Judge of the Second Judicial District from 183942. He resigned to run for state Senate, which he won, serving until 1845. He was appointed state Attorney General in 1846, serving until 1848.

With the onset of the Civil War, he switched parties. In 1863, he served again in the state House, then from 186466 he served in the state Senate.

He died in 1871, and was buried at Woodward Hill Cemetery.

References

  1. "(quoted link)". The Lancaster Journal. Dec 21, 1821.

Further reading

Family details are in

External links

Legal offices
Preceded by
John M. Read
Attorney General of Pennsylvania
18461848
Succeeded by
James Cooper
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