Benjamin B. Thurston

Benjamin Babock Thurston
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island's 2nd district
In office March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1857
Preceded by	Nathan F. Dixon II
Succeeded by	William Daniel Brayton
In office March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849
Preceded by	Lemuel H. Arnold
Succeeded by	Nathan F. Dixon II
Member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
In office 1831-1837
Personal details
Born	(1804-06-29)June 29, 1804 Hopkinton, Rhode Island, US
Died	May 17, 1886(1886-05-17) (aged 81) New London, Connecticut, US
Political party	Democratic
Other political affiliations	Know Nothing Party

Benjamin Babock Thurston (June 29, 1804 – May 17, 1886) was a U.S. Representative from Rhode Island.

Born in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, Thurston attended the common schools, and later engaged in mercantile pursuits. He served as member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives 1831-1837, and as Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island from 1837 to 1838 serving under Governor John B. Francis.

Thurston was elected as a Democrat to the Thirtieth Congress (March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1849 to the Thirty-first Congress.

Thurston was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-second and Thirty-third Congresses and as a candidate of the American Party to the Thirty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1857). He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Treasury (Thirty-second Congress), Committee on Patents (Thirty-third Congress), Committee on Accounts (Thirty-fourth Congress). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1857.

After leaving Congress, Thurston moved to New London, Connecticut, where he served as member of the board of aldermen in 1862 and 1863. He served as member of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1869 and 1870. He resumed mercantile pursuits. He died in New London, Connecticut, May 17, 1886. He was interred in Cedar Grove Cemetery.

Sources

• United States Congress. "Benjamin B. Thurston (id: T000255)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress