1871–1873 | 42nd | U.S. House | Republican | Ulysses S. Grant | | at-large Election results | Year | Office | | Subject | Party | Votes | % | | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | 1860 | U.S. Representative | | Benjamin T. Biggs | Democratic | 7,485 | 47% | | George P. Fisher | Republican | 7,732 | 48% | 1868 | U.S. Representative | | Benjamin T. Biggs | Democratic | 10,961 | 59% | | Alfred T. Torbert | Republican | 7,636 | 41% | 1870 | U.S. Representative | | Benjamin T. Biggs | Democratic | 12,434 | 55% | | Joshua T. Heald | Republican | 10,001 | 45% | 1886 | Governor | | Benjamin T. Biggs | Democratic | 13,942 | 64% | | James R. Hoffecker | Temperance | 7,835 | 36% | Professional and political career Biggs was a teacher and a farmer, whose time was primarily spent tending peach orchards in central New Castle County and the adjacent portion of Maryland. However, he was also a talented public speaker, and through this avocation, began a lifelong involvement in public affairs. Beginning as a member of the Whig Party, he was an instrumental figure in the Delaware Constitutional Convention of 1852. While the work of this convention was ultimately rejected, Biggs switched his partisan allegiance to the Democratic Party when the Whig Party broke up. The Democrats were the Southern leaning, anti-abolitionist, states rights party, strongly opposed to the policies of Abraham Lincoln and the Republicans. Presumably Biggs was in general agreement with its positions. Death and legacy Biggs died at his home in Middletown, Delaware and was buried into the Bethel Church Cemetery at Chesapeake City, Maryland. They were moved again to an unknown location in 1965 upon a widening of the nearby Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. His son, John, was Attorney General of Delaware while he was Governor. The Gov. Benjamin T. Biggs Farm was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. Early life and family Biggs was born near Bohemia Manor in Cecil County, Maryland, son of John and Diana Bell Biggs. He attended the Methodist Pennington Seminary and Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. During the Mexican-American War he was appointed a major of the Delaware militia. He married Mary Beekman and had five children: John, Elizabeth, Benjamin T. Jr., Jennie, and Willard. They lived at 201 North Cass Street in Middletown, Delaware and were members of the Methodist Church. Governor of Delaware Over the next twenty years Delaware politics were not unlike those of a state in the Deep South. In spite of a large minority of Republicans in New Castle County, hatred of the Republicans and their policies of racial equality, ran high throughout the rest of the state. There were years when the Republicans were unable to elect anyone to the General Assembly and years when they did not even bother to nominate a candidate for Governor. Biggs was nominated to run for Governor in 1886, and fortunately for him, it was the last year such a disparity existed between the parties. For the last time there was no Republicans candidate, and he received only the token opposition of the Temperance Reform Party candidate, James R. Hoffecker, whom he defeated easily. Biggs served from January 18, 1887 until January 20, 1891. Two years later the Republicans began their long road back and took advantage of splits in the Democratic leadership to elect a small majority in the State House. Meanwhile Biggs did as countless governors before him, and pleaded with the General Assembly for all kinds of reform, including better representation for New Castle County, and reform of the voting procedures. And as usual, he was largely ignored, except for a provision to establish a State Hospital for the Insane, now the Delaware State Hospital at Farnhurst. Delaware General Assembly (sessions while Governor) | Year | Assembly | | Senate Majority | Speaker | | House Majority | Speaker | 1887–1888 | 84th | | Democratic | John E. Collins | | Democratic | William R. McCabe | 1889–1890 | 85th | | Democratic | Beniah L. Lewis | | Republican | John H. Hoffecker | Images - Portrait courtesy of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Dover
Living octopus
In countries which are located near sea coasts, sea food is an important part of national cuisine
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