Henry Bennett (American politician)

Henry Bennett (September 29, 1808 – May 10, 1868) was an American lawyer and politician who served five terms as a United States representative from New York from 1849 to 1859.

Biography
Bennett was born in New Lisbon, Otsego County, New York on September 29, 1808, where he attended public schools. He married Polly Maria Gibson.

Career
Bennett studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1832 and practiced law in New Berlin, Chenango County, New York. He served as clerk of the town of New Berlin in 1846.

Congress
Elected as a Whig to the Thirty-first through the Thirty-third Congresses, Bennett was elected a member of the Opposition Party to the Thirty-fourth. He was elected as a Republican to the Thirty-fifth Congress, thereby serving from March 4, 1849 until March 3, 1859. He was the chairman of the Committee on Public Lands in the Thirty-fourth Congress.

Later career
In 1858 Bennett unsuccessfully sought renomination to the Thirty-sixth Congress, and resumed the practice of law in New Berlin, until his death.

Death
Bennett died in New Berlin, Chenango County, New York, on May 10, 1868 at the age of 59. He is interred at St. Andrews' Cemetery, New Berlin, New York.