Jurist; born in New York City, June 21, 1746; was graduated at King's College (now Columbia University) in 1765; took an active part in political events preliminary to the war for independence; was a member of the Committee of Safety, and, in 1777, was appointed the first
attorney-general of the
State of New York.
He was also a member of the first State legislature.
He was a member of the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1789, and of the new Congress from 1789 to 1793, also from 1813 to 1815.
From 1789 to 1802, he was a regent of the New York University, judge of the Supreme Court of New York (1794-1801), and of the United States Circuit Court.
He was the first president of the New York Historical Society.
Judge Benson was the author of a
Vindication of the captors of Major Andre;, and a
Memoir on Dutch names of places.
He died in
Jamaica,
Long Island, Aug. 24, 1833.