Representative Bennet Bicknell

Bennet Bicknell (November 14, 1781 – September 15, 1841) was an American War of 1812 veteran and Democratic politician who served one term as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1837 to 1839. He was born in Mansfield, Connecticut, where he attended the public schools. Little is recorded about his parents or early family life, but his upbringing in Connecticut provided the basic education that prepared him for later public service. In his personal life, he married Lucinda Crane, and together they had four children, establishing a family that would remain connected to his adopted home in New York.

In 1808, Bicknell moved from Connecticut to Morrisville, in Madison County, New York, a relocation that marked the beginning of his long association with public affairs in that state. When the United States entered the War of 1812, he served in the conflict, gaining the status of a War of 1812 veteran. His military service coincided with the early stages of his civic involvement and helped to establish his standing in the community at a time when many local leaders were drawn from the ranks of those who had participated in the war.

Bicknell’s formal political career began soon after his wartime service. He was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1812, representing his locality in the lower house of the state legislature during a period when New York was growing rapidly in population and political importance. He advanced to higher state office when he served in the New York State Senate from 1814 to 1818. In the Senate he participated in shaping state policy during the postwar years, a time marked by economic development and the early stirrings of the canal era that would transform New York’s economy and infrastructure.

After his legislative service, Bicknell continued to hold important local and county offices. He served as clerk of Madison County, New York, from 1821 to 1825, a position that placed him at the center of county administration, record-keeping, and legal documentation. In addition to his official duties, he was active in the world of local journalism as editor of the Madison Observer. Through this role as editor, he contributed to public discourse and helped inform and influence opinion in Madison County, further solidifying his position as a community leader.

Bicknell’s state and local prominence led to his election to national office. Elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-fifth Congress, he represented New York’s twenty-third congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from March 4, 1837, to March 3, 1839. His term in Congress coincided with a significant period in American history, including the economic turmoil following the Panic of 1837 and the early years of the Van Buren administration. As a member of the Democratic Party representing New York, Bicknell contributed to the legislative process during his single term, participating in the democratic process and representing the interests of his constituents in the House of Representatives. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1838 to the Twenty-sixth Congress, which ended his service at the federal level.

Following his congressional term, Bicknell returned to private life in Morrisville, remaining in the community that had been his home since 1808. He did not again hold national office, but his earlier record of military service, state legislative work, county administration, and newspaper editing had already established his legacy as a public servant in New York.

Bennet Bicknell died in Morrisville, Madison County, New York, on September 15, 1841, at the age of 59 years and 305 days. He was interred at Morrisville Rural Cemetery. His life reflected the trajectory of many early nineteenth-century American politicians who combined military service, local and state office, and a single term in Congress during a formative era in the nation’s political development.