Benjamin Carver

Benjamin F. Carver (1796–July 16, 1879) was an American banker, businessman, and politician. He was involved in numerous business ventures, including banks, in his native state of New York before departing for Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the late-1850s, where he continued to work in banking and amassed a sizable fortune. He served in the New York General Assembly from 1839 to 1840, being elected in 1838 as a Democrat to a seat representing Herkimer County. He was the Democratic nominee for mayor of Chicago in the city's 1857 mayoral election, losing to Republican nominee John Wentworth.

Early life Carver was born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1796, the son of Capt. Joseph Carver and Abigail Carver .

Business career Carver worked as a postmaster, merchant, and distillery owner in East Winfield, New York, in partnership with. David R. Carrier. He subsequently moved to the village of Mohawk (which like Winfield, was in Herkimer County). By 1851, he was employed as the president of the Mohawk Valley Bank and had incorporated the Herkimer County Bank. He worked as a director of the Mohawk Valley Railroad.

Political career From 1839 to 1840, Carver was a member of the New York State Assembly from Herkimer County. Elected in 1838 as a Democrat, he served in the 62nd New York State Legislature.

Carver was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee in the 1857 Chicago mayoral election, losing to Republican nominee John Wentworth. The election occurred several years before the American Civil War, with the debate over slavery in the United States being prominent both nationally and in the mayoral election. Carver campaigned on pro-slavery positions, while Wentworth was a well-established proponent of abolitionist policies. Former congressman Abraham Lincoln (at the time a U.S. Senate aspirant in Illinois; and who would later go on to be elected President in 1860) came to Chicago to campaign in support of Wentworth's candidacy against Carver. Flora Ann Remington , 1831–1888 Victoria Thompson , 1842–1912 Watt Samuel Carver, born circa 1846

Carver died at the age of 84 on July 16, 1879 at his residence on Congress Street in Chicago. He left an estate valued at $250,000.