Benjamin Franklin Angel

Background

Benjamin Franklin Angel was born on November 28, 1815 in Burlington, New York, United States, the son of Benjamin and Abigail (Stickney) Angel. He was also a descendant of Thomas Angell, who came to Boston with Roger Williams in 1631.

Education

In 1830 he entered the Livingston County High School at Geneseo, New York, but weak eyesight compelled him to abandon the hope of a university course.

He taught school for a short time and in 1834 commenced the study of law at Hudson, New York.

Career

He was appointed surrogate of Livingston County, March 23, 1836, serving four years in that position and being admitted to the bar in 1837. Though young, he proved an extremely efficient official and after the presidential election of 1844, when the Democratic party regained power in the state, he was reappointed surrogate, continuing to hold office until, under the constitution of 1846, his duties were merged in those of the county judge.

In 1848 he was appointed master in chancery and supreme court commissioner. He was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention at Baltimore in 1852.

At about this period his health gave way and in 1853, in the hope of benefiting by a change of climate, he accepted an appointment by President Pierce as United States consul at Honolulu.

He went to his post in June 1853 and remained there eighteen months, but the United States Senate failed to ratify the appointment. In 1855, accordingly, the President sent him to China as special envoy and commissioner to settle if possible a controversy between the Chinese customs officials and some American merchants who had refused to pay customs export duties. After executing this mission satisfactorily, he returned to the United States by way of the East Indies, making an extended tour in Egypt and Europe.

He described his experiences in letters to the press which aroused great interest.

In 1856 he was the Democratic nominee from Livingston County for Congress. Though defeated, one of the first acts of President Buchanan was to appoint him minister resident to Norway and Sweden.

He remained in this post till the change of administration in 1861, returning home in 1862. He did not resume practise but took up farming on a large scale at Geneseo.

His last appearance in the political arena was as a delegate to the National Democratic Convention at Chicago in 1864.

He was president of the New York State Agricultural Society in 1873.

His latter years were spent in retirement on his Geneseo estate, where he died.

Achievements

• Angel became a prominent Democratic member and held important posts during his career. He made the party successful nationally. As a Special Commissioner, he successfully settled a dispute between some American merchants and the Chinese government regarding the exaction of export duties.

Politics

At a comparatively early age he had taken an active interest in politics on the Democratic side.

Connections

He was married twice and was survived by three children.

Spouse:

Catherine E. (Gansevoort) Angel

Spouse :

Julia Jennie (Jones) Angel

Daughter :

Jenny Jones (Angel) Gerard

Father :

Benjamin Frederick Angel

Brother:

William Hunt Angel

Sister :

Amanda Angel

Brother :

Robert Guy Angel

Brother :

Truman S. Angel

mother :

Abigail Hunt (Stickney) Angel

Son:

Charles Henry Angel

Son :

Franklin William Angel