Benjamin Rumsey

Benjamin Rumsey (October 6, 1734 March 7, 1808) was an American jurist from Joppa, Maryland. He served as a delegate for Maryland in the Continental Congress in 1776 and 1777. For over twenty-five years, beginning in 1778, he was the chief judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals.

Benjamin was born at Bohemia Manor in Cecil County, Maryland. After attending Princeton, he read law and was admitted to the bar. He settled in Joppa before 1768 and lived there the rest of his life.

Rumsey was first elected to Maryland's lower house in 1771 as a member for Cecil County. After Harford County was formed in 1773, he represented it. He also represented it in the revolutionary conventions held between 1774 and 1776. Maryland sent him to the Continental Congress for three sessions in 1776 and 1777.

When a new state superior court (the Maryland Court of Appeals) was created in 1778, Rumsey was appointed as its first chief justice. He held that post until his retirement in 1806. He died at home in Joppa in 1808 and is buried in the Old St. John's Church Cemetery there.

External links

Legal offices
Preceded by
no one
Chief Judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals
17781806
Succeeded by
Jeremiah Townly Chase
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 8/3/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.