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Benjamin F. Hallett | |
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| United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | |
| In office 1853–1857 | |
| Preceded by | George Lunt |
| Succeeded by | Charles L. Woodbury |
| 1stChair of the Democratic National Committee | |
| In office 1848–1852 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Robert Milligan McLane |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1797-12-02)December 2, 1797 |
| Died | September 30, 1862(1862-09-30) (aged 64) |
| Resting place | Mount Auburn Cemetery |
| Political party | Anti-Masonic Party Democratic Party |
| Alma mater | Brown University |
| Occupation | Attorney |
Benjamin Franklin Hallett (December 2, 1797 – September 30, 1862) was aMassachusetts lawyer andDemocratic Party activist, most notable as the first chairman of theDemocratic National Committee.
Benjamin Franklin Hallett was born inBarnstable, Massachusetts. After graduating fromBrown University in 1816, he studied law and began a journalistic career inProvidence,Rhode Island. He soon moved toBoston, where he began with theBoston Advocate, shifting to theBoston Daily Advertiser in 1827. At that time he espoused the views of theAnti-Masonic Party, but when that particular group went out of fashion he switched to theDemocratic Party as an enemy ofHenry Clay. He joined and became a prominent member of theSuffolk County, Massachusettsbar.
As a candidate for Congress in 1844 and 1848 he was defeated both times byWhigRobert C. Winthrop. In the latter raceCharles Sumner was also a candidate, representing theFree-Soil Party. In 1848 he became, for four years, the first Chairman of theDemocratic National Committee.
In March 1853, PresidentFranklin Pierce appointed Hallett to succeedGeorge Lunt for a four-year term asUnited States District Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. At the1856 Democratic National Convention, Hallett was chairman of the Platform Committee.
In 1860 he was chosen as a delegate, but skipped theCharleston, South Carolina, meeting (the convention, scheduled April 23-May 3, 1860, coincided with the death of Hallett's wife, Laura Smith Larned, of bilious fever, on May 3, 1860). Trying to regain the seat he had vacated, the convention atBaltimore voted 138 to 112 to deny Hallett the seat. He then joined the walk-out Convention that nominatedJohn C. Breckinridge andJoseph Lane.
Hallett died at his home in Boston on September 30, 1862.[1]
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