Preceded by Person Colby Cheney Party Republican Party Political party Republican Succeeded by Nathaniel Head | Name Benjamin Prescott Resigned June 5, 1879 Education Dartmouth College | |
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Role Former Governor of New Hampshire Died February 21, 1895, Concord, New Hampshire, United States Previous office Governor of New Hampshire (1877–1879) | ||
Benjamin Franklin Prescott (February 26, 1833 – February 21, 1895) was an American lawyer, newspaper editor, and politician from Epping, New Hampshire, who served two terms as a governor of New Hampshire.
Biography
Benjamin F. Prescott was born in Epping, New Hampshire, on February 26, 1833. He attended Pembroke Academy and Phillips Exeter Academy, and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1856.
Prescott studied law, attained admission to the bar, and practiced in Concord. He became active in the Republican Party, and served as Secretary of the Republican State Committee from 1859 to 1874. He was also Secretary of New Hampshire's Electoral College members every four years from 1860 to 1880.
In 1859 Prescott became editor of the Independent Democrat, a Republican newspaper that opposed slavery and endorsed the Abraham Lincoln administration.
Prescott was a New England special agent for the Treasury Department from 1865 to 1869, responsible to audit and report on the activities of customs collectors at border crossing and ports. He was New Hampshire Secretary of State from 1872 to 1873 and 1875 to 1876.
In 1877 Prescott was elected to a one-year term as governor. He was reelected in 1878, and served from June 7, 1877, to June 5, 1879. During his term the state constitution as revised and construction began on a new state prison in Concord.
Prescott remained active in politics after leaving office, serving as chairman of the 1880 state Republican convention and a Delegate to the 1880 Republican National Convention. From 1887 to 1893 Prescott served on the state Board of Railroad Commissioners.
In addition to his political activities, Prescott was an author and was involved with several historical organizations. He was vice president of the New Hampshire Historical Society, President of the Bennington Battle Monument Commission, and a Fellow of Great Britain's Royal Historical Society. He was also a trustee of the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts and Dartmouth College.
Prescott died in Epping on February 21, 1895. He was buried at Blossom Hill Cemetery in Concord.
His Epping home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.