Biography

1809 - 08/14/1852

Benjamin Matthias (Whig1) Philadelphia City 1848-1852

Early Life:

Benjamin Matthias, born 1809, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Hills) Matthias; attorney; married, Elizabeth Rogers, 1825; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1832-1833, unsuccessful campaign for reelection, 1833; appointed, director, Northern Liberties school board, 1834-1840; president, Philadelphia Association for the Relief of Disabled Firemen; publisher, editor, Saturday Chronicle, 1836-1842; trustee, Dickinson College, 1837-1850; member, Committee of Twenty-Five, Philadelphia, 1843; elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1846-1847; elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1848-1852, elected, Speaker, 1851; died, August 14, 1852, in the office of the Senate, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; interment, Monument Cemetery, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania (defunct); removed, interment, Lawnview Cemetery, Rockledge, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Authored:

Matthias, Benjamin. The Politician’s Register: Containing a Brief Sketch of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Departments of the Federal and State Governments. Philadelphia: Key and Biddle, 1835.

Matthias, Benjamin.  Hand-Book for Travelers: The Traveler’s Guide Between Philadelphia and Baltimore.  Philadelphia: Burgess and Zieber, 1843.

Matthias, Benjamin.  The Traveler’s Guide from New York to Philadelphia, and Philadelphia to New York.  Philadelphia: Godey and McMichael, 1843.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Philadelphia County, 1832-1833, unsuccessful campaign for reelection, 1833.

Appointed, director, Northern Liberties school board, 1834-1840.

Member, Committee of Twenty-Five, Philadelphia, 1843.

Elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Philadelphia City, Philadelphia County, 1846-1847.

Elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1st district, Philadelphia City, 1848-1852, elected, Speaker, 1851; died, August 14, 1852, in the office of the Senate.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members M". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Benjamin Matthias (unknown-1852) - Find a Grave Memorial