James Davenport (Connecticut congressman)

James Davenport
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's At-large district
In office December 5, 1796 – August 3, 1797
Preceded by	Nathaniel Smith
Succeeded by	Samuel W. Dana
Member of the Connecticut Senate
In office 1790-1797
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
In office 1785-1790
Personal details
Born	October 12, 1758 Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	August 3, 1797 (aged 38) Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.
Citizenship	United States
Political party	Federalist
Spouse(s)	Abigail Fitch Davenport and Mehitable Coggshall Davenport
Relations	James Davenport and John Davenport
Children	Elizabeth Coggshall Davenport, Abigail Fitch Davenport, Mary Ann Davenport and Frances Louise Davenport
Parents	Abraham Davenport and Elizabeth (Huntington) Davenport
Alma mater	Yale College
Occupation	Lawyer, Judge, Politician
Religion	Congregationalist

James Davenport (October 12, 1758 – August 3, 1797) was an eighteenth-century American lawyer, politician and judge. He served as a U.S. Representative from Connecticut.

Biography

Davenport was born in Stamford, Connecticut, the son of Abraham Davenport, and Elizabeth (Huntington) Davenport. He graduated from Yale College in 1777. He served in the commissary department of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War.^[1] He served as judge of the court of common pleas and was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1785 to 1790.^[2] Davenport served in the Connecticut State Senate from 1790 to 1797, and was a member of the Connecticut council of assistants from 1790 to 1796.^[3]

He was a judge of the Fairfield County Court from 1792 until 1796.^[4] He was elected as a Federalist candidate to the Fourth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James Hillhouse, and was reelected to the Fifth Congress. Davenport served in Congress from December 5, 1796 until his death in Stamford on August 3, 1797.^[5]

Personal life

Davenport married Abigail Fitch on May 7, 1780. They had one daughter together, Elizabeth Coggshall Davenport. Davenport married his second wife Mehitable Coggshall on November 6, 1790. Davenport had three daughters with Mehitable, Abigail Fitch Davenport, Mary Ann Davenport and Frances Louise Davenport.^[6][7]

Davenport's uncle, also named James Davenport, was a noted clergyman.^[8] Davenport's brother John Davenport also served in the United States Congress.^[9]

References

1. "DAVENPORT, James, (1758 - 1797)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
2. "Portrait of a Family: Stamford through the Legacy of the Davenports". Stamford Historical Society. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
3. "Davenport, James (1758-1797)". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
4. United States Congress (2005). Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-2005: The Continental Congress, September 5, 1774, to October 21, 1788, and the Congress of the United States, from the First Through the One Hundred Eighth Congresses, March 4, 1789, to January 3, 2005, Inclusive. Government Printing Office. p. 922.
5. "Rep. James Davenport". Govtrack.us. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
6. "Portrait of a Family: Stamford through the Legacy of the Davenports". Stamford Historical Society. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
7. "Stamford, CT Families (1641-1935)". Ancestry.com. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
8. "DAVENPORT, James [1716-1757] -- American clergyman". Ancestry.com. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
9. "Davenport, John (1752-1830)". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved January 1, 2013.

External links

• Find A Grave: James Davenport