Scott Benckendorf

***Scott Benckendorf***

**Scott Barron Benckendorf** was a Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Vice President, and the first ever person to be an Acting President. Scott Benckendorf is mostly remembered for his contributions during the 2nd American Civil War, when he was Acting President for a significant amount of time after President John Adams was captured by rebel soldiers. Scott was also the brother of both Charles Benckendorf, a New Hampshire Senator, and George Benckendorf, the 3rd President of the United States.

## Political Career

### Secretary of the Treasury

Scott Benckendorf had lived a very successful life as a businessman, and in 1797 President John Adams would recognize this, nominating Scott as the Secretary of the Treasury. Scott was able to maintain the economics of the nation as the Secretary of the Treasury, but he was not a very politically outgoing man, and mostly kept to himself as an administrator. On July 26, 1800 Vice President James Madison resigned as the Vice President, with this resignation Scott ascended to the Vice Presidency as the President Pro Tempore, Speaker of the House, Secretary of State, and Secretary of War were all empty positions.

### Vice President

Scott Benckendorf would barely serve as Vice President, spending most of his tenure as Acting President after the Battle of D.C..

### Acting President

President John Adams was captured at the Battle of D.C., and afterwards Scott Benckendorf would serve as the Acting President of the United States. Scott was an administrative man in a very much war time era, and it certainly showed. Scott was not going to much of anything, but he did know one person he could. Scott quickly appointed make a new war intentions plan, giving his brother George Benckendorf in control of the entire southern front. Benckendorf in this position would retake D.C., inspire a revolt by popular general Horatio Gates in Virginia, and take Alexandria; meanwhile Lieutenant General Theophile Lybaert was put in command of New Jersey, in which he would completely conquer the state; and Major General Philip Schuyler would be put in command of New England, in which he would hold off an invasion attempt. While D.C. was captured Scott would also make Harrisburg, Pennsylvania the temporary capitol of the United States until it was retaken.

Scott Benckendorf would take up President John Adams' role in the predecessor, George Benckendorf's inauguration.

### Secretary of State

George Benckendorf would assign Scott Benckendorf as Secretary of State in March of 1801 after his inauguration, but it was apparently a job Scott wasn't very good at or liked. In fact after the disaster of the Treaty of Newark and then the subsequent Treaty of Québec, Scott resigned, going back to the Benckendorf Plantation which was owned by his brother George.

## Personal Life

Scott Benckendorf was born on May 18, 1744 to Joseph Benckendorf and Julia Benckendorf. Scott was the eldest their children, and in 1764 following the French and Indian War Scott moved to New Hampshire, buying a business shop and began woodworking, by 1767 he built the Benckendorf Manor in Concord, and by 1777 he was one of the most successful businessman in New Hampshire. By 1781 one of his brothers, Charles Benckendorf, moved to Concord, New Hampshire, living so close by they often visited eachother.

Scott was a well connected man, but even that couldn't stop personal tragedy. On November 16, 1796 Scott's brother Charles Benckendorf would perish in a duel with Amon Gus, the Governor of New Hampshire. Charles left his property, the Benckendorf Family Farm to his eldest son, however as he was not old enough to own it yet, Scott became the guardian of the property until Nathanael Greene Benckendorf reached 18 in July of 1800. Scott moved back to the Benckendorf Plantation in Pennsylvania during the Second American Civil War, returning to New Hampshire in 1802. Scott would remain the legal guardian of the Charles Children until 1811 when Caroline Dupont Benckendorf would reach the age of 18. Scott died in his sleep from throat cancer in his sleep on June 19, 1816