12 Facts About James Lanman

James Lanman was an American lawyer and politician from Connecticut who served in the United States Senate from 1819 to 1825.

James Lanman was a cousin of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams.

James Lanman was the eldest of the seven children of shipping magnate Peter Lanman of Norwich, Connecticut and Sarah Spaulding Lanman.

The first of many generations of Lanmans who attended what is known as Yale University, James Lanman pursued classical studies, debated as a member of Brothers in Unity and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Yale College in 1788.

When his father died in 1804, James inherited and moved into his childhood home, the now historic "Peter Lanman House" on Main Street, for the rest of his life.

James Lanman studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1791, beginning his practice in his hometown of Norwich "where he acquired great local distinction for his eloquence and general ability".

James Lanman was elected to the State house of representatives in 1817, as a delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1818, then to the State senate in 1819.

James Lanman was elected to the United States Senate as a Democratic-Republican and served from March 4,1819, to March 3,1825.

James Lanman was a judge of the State superior and supreme courts from 1826 to 1829 and the mayor of Norwich from 1831 to 1834.

James Lanman was known as the last Senator to wear a powdered wig, ruffled shirts and knee breeches.

Widowed in 1817, James Lanman married his second wife, Mary Judith Benjamin, on October 26,1826.

James Lanman died in Norwich, Connecticut on August 7,1841, at age 75, and is interred in the City Cemetery.