Benjamin Swift

Benjamin Swift ( born April 3, 1781 Amenia, Dutchess County, New York, † November 11, 1847 in St. Albans, Vermont) was an American politician who represented the state of Vermont in both chambers of the U.S. Congress.

Born in New York State Benjamin Swift was five years old when his father moved with him to Bennington in Vermont, where he completed his schooling. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1806 and commenced practice in Bennington. After living for a short time in Manchester, he finally settled down in 1809 in St. Albans in Franklin County. There he continued working as a lawyer, as well as in the banking industry and in agriculture.

1813 began his political career with the membership of the House of Representatives from Vermont, where he served from 1825 to 1827 as the representative of the Democratic-Republican Party one more time. Immediately afterwards he was chosen as Nationalrepublikaner House of Representatives of the United States in Washington, where he remained until 1831. Later he joined the Whigs and sat for this March 4, 1833 to March 3, 1839 the U.S. Senate. In Congress, he was one of the declared opponents of the policies of President Andrew Jackson.

After him his party had not been nominated for a further term of to Swift withdrew from politics. He again worked as a lawyer and farmer, and died 1847 in St. Albans.