Dr. Benedict Joseph Semmes (1789-1863)
MSA SC 3520-1889
Biography:
Born November 1, 1789, in Charles County, Maryland. Son of
Benedict
Joseph and Henrietta (Thompson) Semmes. Attended public schools in
Charles
County; a medical college in Philadelphia; Baltimore Medical School
class
of 1811. Married Emily Elizabeth Edelen (3/22/1800-2/5/185) on November
11, 1823, in Prince George's County, Maryland; children: Henrietta (b.
1824 d. in childhood), Charlotte (b. 1826- d.c. 1829), Benedict Joseph
(b. 1827 d. in childhood), Matilda (b. 3/13/1830), Eugenia (1831-1843),
Benedict Joseph (b. 8/15/1833), Alice (b. 8/19/1835 d. in childhood),
Celestia
(10/15/1839-3/16/1876). Died February 10, 1863, at "Oak Lawn", Prince
George's
County, Maryland.
After graduating from the Baltimore Medical School, Benedict Semmes
settled in Prince George's County, where he established a farm and also
practiced medicine. In 1821, Semmes was elected to the Maryland House
of Delegates from Prince George's County. He served as Speaker of the
House during the 1825 Regular Session. In 1828, he was elected to the
United States House of Representatives, where he served from March 1829
to March 1833. He returned to the State House in 1842 as a member of
Maryland House of Delegates. Following this term, he retired to his
farm in Prince George's County, where he died in 1863.
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