Samuel Hambleton (politician)

Samuel Hambleton (January 8, 1812 – December 9, 1886) was an American politician from Maryland. He served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Talbot County from 1834 to 1835 and in 1854. He also served in the Maryland Senate in 1844. He served as a U.S. Representative from Maryland from 1869 to 1873.

Early life
Samuel Hambleton was born on January 8, 1812, at "Waterloo" farm near Easton, Talbot County, Maryland, to Mary (née Sherwood) and Edward N. Hambleton. His father was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates. Hambleton was educated by private tutors and attended Easton Academy. He attended Easton Academy. He studied law under Theodore R. Loockerman. He was admitted to the bar in 1833, and commenced practice in Easton, Maryland.

Career
Hambleton was a Whig. In 1833, he was nominated to serve as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, but lost. He then served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Talbot County from 1834 to 1836. He was appointed deputy state's attorney for Talbot County from 1836. He served in that role until 1844. In 1844, he was a presidential elector for the Whig Party.

Hambleton was elected to the Maryland Senate in 1844, defeating Democratic nominee Nicholas Martin. He served until 1850. He was president of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal in 1853 and 1854, and again served as a member of the House of Delegates in 1854. Around 1856, he left the Whig Party and joined the Democratic Party. He was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-first and Forty-second Congresses, in 1868, defeating Henry R. Torbert. He served from March 4, 1869, to March 3, 1873.

In 1845, Governor Thomas Pratt appointed Hambleton as colonel of cavalry. He organized five companies in his regiment and commanded the regiment for four years. He served as a director of the Farmer's Bank of Maryland for the Eastern Shore and later a director and attorney for the Easton National Bank. He was a member of the board of trustees of the Maryland Agricultural Society for the Eastern Shore. He was a director of the Maryland & Delaware Railroad (later the Chesapeake & Delaware Railroad). He was president of the board of trustees of Easton Academy when it was merged into Easton High School.

Personal life
Hambleton married Elizabeth Parrott, his cousin and daughter of James Parrott. They had at least one son and daughter, including Alexander. His son served in the Confederate Army. Hambleton's contemporaries referred to him as Colonel Hambleton. He also went by Samuel Hambleton Jr. since his uncle had the same name. He was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

Hambleton died at his home in Easton on December 9, 1886. He is interred in Spring Hill Cemetery.