Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/321

 BINGHAJkl.

BINGHAM.

management of its affairs in connection with all questions of litigation and legislation forming his most important professional responsibilities ; the success of the road in these matters attests his judicious administration. A Democrat in principle he early became interested in politics, and for many years was one of the recognized leaders of his party in New Hampshire. He rep- resented Littleton in the state legislature almost continuously for twenty-two years and served two terms as state senator from the Grafton district. He was a member of the state con- stitutional convention of 18T6, and chairman of the committee on legislative department, exer- cising a weighty influence in the deliberations of the convention. He was twice the candidate of the Democratic party for representative in Congress, and was seven times after 1866 a can- didate before the legislature of New Hampshire for United States senator. He was a delegate to five national Democratic conventions, serving in every instance on the committee on resolu- tions, and was a member of the national com- mittee from 1868 to 1873. Mr. Bingham was an historical, philosophical and political writer and contributed valuable articles to legal and current literature. He died in Littleton, N.H., Sept. 12, 1900. BINQHAM, Henry H., representative, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1841. After his graduation from Jefferson college in 1862 he began to study law, but soon joined the Federal army as Heutenant in the 140th Pennsylvania Volun- teers. He served until the close of the war, being wounded at Gettysburg in 1863, at Spottsyl- vania in 1864, and at Farmville, Va., in 1865. In July, 1866, he was mus- tered out of service with the brevet rank of brigadier- general of volvm- teers. He received the appointment of postmaster of Philadelphia in March, 1867, from President Johnson and resigned in 1872, he having been elected clerk of the courts of oyer and terminer and quarter sessions of the peace at Philadelphia, to which ofiice he was re- elected in 1875. In 1872 he was delegate-at-large to the Republican national convention, held at Philadelphia, and was a delegate from the first congressional district in the national RepubUcan convention at Cincinnati in 1876, at Chicago in

1884 and 1888, at Minneapolis in 1892, and at Chicago in 1896. He was elected in 1878 a rep- resentative to the 46th United States Congress, and re-elected to the 47tli and following con- gresses to the 58th, inclusive.

BINQHAM, Hiram, Jr., missionary, was born in Honolulu, Sandwich Islands, Aug. 16, 1831, son of Hiram Bingham, a missionary of the A.

B. C. F. M. He was brought to America by his father in 1841, and was graduated from Yale college in 1853. He was ordained to the Congre- gational ministry in 1856, chose the missionary field and was assigned to Micronesia by the A. B.

C. F. M., where he labored for nearly eighteen years. For two years he had command of the missionary ship Morning Star. He translated the Bible from the Hebrew into the language of the Gilbert Islands. In this great work, which he completed in 1890. he was materially aided by his wife. Afterwards he was stationed at Honolulu as missionary of the A. B. C. F. M.

BINQHAM, John A., representative, was born at Mercer, Pa., in 1815. He was educated at Franklin college, studied law, and in 1840 began to practise. In 1846 he was district attorney for Tuscarawas county, Ohio, holding the office for three years. In 1854 he was elected a representa- tive from Ohio to the 34th Congress and was re- elected to the 35th, 36th and 37th congresses. In the impeachment trial of Judge Humphreys for high treason on May 22, 1862, Mr. Bingham acted as chairman of the managers of the house. He failed of election to the 38th Congress, declined an appointment by President Lincoln as United States district judge for the southern district of Florida, and, in 1864, accepted the appointment as judge-advocate in the Federal army, and later in the same year that of solicitor in the court of claims. "When the conspirators against the lives of President Lincoln and the members of his cabinet were tried, he was special judge-advocate. In 1864 he was elected a representative to the 39th Congress, and was re-elected to the 40tli, 41st and 42d congresses, serving until March 3, 1873. He was one of the managers in the impeachment trial of President Johnson. He was appointed minister to Japan by President Grant, serving 1873-85. He died at Cadiz. Ohio, March 19, 1900.

BINQHAM, Judson David, soldier, was born at Massena Springs, N. Y., May 16, 1831. Remov- ing to Indiana he was appointed a military cadet to West Point, and was graduated from there in July, 1854, with the rank of 2d heutenant of artillery. He was assigned to service at Fort Wood, New York, and in 1855 to Barrancas bar- racks, Florida. From March, 1856, to August, 1863, he was 1st lieutenant of artillery, served on the Coast Survey in the garrison at Fort Mon- roe, Virginia, and in 1859 was a member of the