Charles Benckendorf

**Charles Ravensport Benckendorf** was a Senator, representing New Hampshire. Charles would also lend himself as a Representative of New Hampshire, State Legislator in New Hampshire, serve as the President of the New Hampshire Veterans Society, and would be a Lieutenant Colonel in the army.

## Military Service

In 1774 when Charles moved to Boston, he joined a local militia, soon participating in the Battles of Lexington and Concord and the Battle of Bunker Hill in early 1775, in which he would be promoted to Sargeant and later Lieutenant. In 1778 after graduating, Charles would transfer to a more mobile regiment, and would be involved in the Battle of Rhode Island, fighting with Lieutenant Colonel Henry Livingston in defense of Quaker Hill, getting himself injured and promoted to Captain. Charles would be involved in one last battle in 1780, the Battle of Norwalk, in which he helped Brigadier General Henry Whittleston push back Tyson's men. In 1781 Charles was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, with this rank he moved to New Hampshire, settling down for the rest of the war.

Charles would later help resolve the Pennsylvania Line Mutiny in 1783, which would earn him recognition amongst his peers, being elected President of the New Hampshire Veterans Society.

Charles would take command of the New Hampshire Militia in 1794 during the French Revolutionary Wars. Charles had been in command when Governor Amon Gus of New Hampshire ordered a mob to kill a black Representative of Vermont. The crowd lynched William Webster of Vermont, and Charles would go to arrest the Governor and bring him to court, but Governor Amon called up a bunch of volunteers and fought back, many of his men died, but Gus refused to give in. By the end of the fighting Amon challenged Charles to a duel, in which Charles died. Amon would be sentenced to life in prison for his rebellion, and would never be released.

## Political Career

In late 1784, Charles would be elected unanimously to his local state Assembly seat, winning reelection unanimously in 1786 and 1788. In 1790 Charles would run for the United States House of Representatives, replacing Representative Nicholas Gilman Jr., and joining his brother in the Congress.

### Senate

Charles would run for Senate in 1792, winning the seat, becoming the second Benckendorf as a Senator. Charles would serve during the French Revolution period, and in 1795 he would ascend to the position of President Pro Tempore after his brother retired from the position.

Charles was shot by Amon Gus in late 1796, and his brother George would once again retake the position of President Pro Tempore after this.

## Personal Life

On August 17, 1757, Charles Benckendorf was born to Joseph and Julia Benckendorf. Charles had 5 siblings, George Benckendorf was one, who would later become a President, and another was Scott Benckendorf, who was a Vice President. At age 17, Charles was accepted into Harvard University, a very prestigious University amongst Colonial America. Charles would make the move to the Boston area in 1774, joining a militia, joining he Boston Tea Party, and beginning his studies at Harvard. Charles would graduate Valedictorian in 1778, despite being more active in the military.

In 1779 at the Battle of Norwalk, Charles would be injured in battle, being sent to a field hospital where he would meet his future wife, Martha Hayes. Charles would hit it off with her, finally marrying in 1780. By 1781, fighting had mostly stopped in the Americas, so Charles moved with his wife to Concord, New Hampshire and laid in wait for the war to end. In total, Charles and Martha would have 16 kids; only 1 of their children did not survive until adulthood, Harrold Benckendorf, who died suddenly at just 3 months of age. Charles Benckendorf died in 1796, and his oldest living son, Nathanael was too young to inherit property, so Charles' brother Scott would become ward of the property and guardian of Charles' children.

* Harrold Maxwell Benckendorf (March 7, 1781 - June 19, 1781)
* Nathanael Greene Benckendorf (Born: July 2, 1782)
* Lucy Allana Benckendorf (Born: April 10, 1783)
* Charles Ravensport Benckendorf Jr. (Born: February 29, 1784)
* Felix Julian Benckendorf (Born: December 23, 1784)
* Abigail Ferraro Benckendorf (Born: December 23, 1784)
* Olivia Druids Benckendorf (Born: October 5, 1785)
* Benjamin John Benckendorf (Born: July 13, 1786)
* Marie Sparks Benckendorf (Born: May 31, 1787)
* James Marcus Benckendorf (Born: February 13, 1788)
* Thomas Hills Benckendorf (Born: February 13, 1788)
* Paul Lafayette Benckendorf (Born: November 17, 1788)
* George Tyler Benckendorf (Born: August 29, 1789)
* Gregory Benson Benckendorf (Born: June 9, 1790)
* Rachel Antoinette Benckendorf (Born: March 28, 1791)
* Caroline Dupont Benckendorf (Born: November 4, 1793)