Benjamin J. Sweet | |
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Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 19th district | |
In office January 1, 1861 – January 1, 1862 | |
Preceded by | Samuel H. Thurber |
Succeeded by | George A. Jenkins |
Personal details | |
Born | Benjamin Jeffery Sweet April 24, 1832 Kirkland, New York, U.S. |
Died | January 1, 1874 Washington, D.C., U.S. | (aged 41)
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Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army Union Army |
Years of service | 1861–1865 |
Rank | |
Commands | 21st Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry |
Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Benjamin Jeffery Sweet (April 24, 1832 – January 1, 1874) was an American lawyer, politician, public administrator, and Union Army officer. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate and a Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue.
Sweet is also an important figure in the history of women's rights. The founding document he prepared for the town of Lombard, Illinois, stated that "all citizens" are entitled to vote. In 1891, Ellen A. Martin invoked that provision and voted, 29 years before women were empowered by an amendment to the Constitution to vote in the United States. His two daughters, Ada Celeste Sweet and Winifred Bonfils were also important figures in the history of the battle for women's rights.