George M. Bedinger
George Michael Bedinger (December 10, 1756 – December 7, 1843) was a slave owner, opponent of the expansion of slavery to Kentucky[1][2] and U.S. Representative from Kentucky, uncle of Henry Bedinger.
George Michael Bedinger | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 6th district | |
| In office March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1807 | |
| Preceded by | District Created |
| Succeeded by | Solomon P. Sharp |
| Personal details | |
| Born | George Michael Bedinger December 10, 1756 Hanover, Pennsylvania, British America |
| Died | December 7, 1843 (aged 86) Blue Licks Springs, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
Biography
Born Dec. 10, 1756 in Hanover, Pennsylvania, the son of Henry Bedinger (1729-1772) and Magdelena Schlegel (1734-1796). Bedinger attended an English school. The family moved to Virginia about 1762 and to Kentucky in 1779 and settled at Boonesborough. During the American Revolutionary War, he served as adjutant in John Bowman's expedition against Chillicothe in May 1779. He returned to Virginia and served at the siege of Yorktown, and therefore missed the Battle of Blue Licks in Kentucky.
During the Northwest Indian War, he was a major in Drake's Regiment in 1791, a major commanding the Winchester Battalion of Sharpshooters in the St. Clair expedition in 1791, and a major commanding the Third Sublegion of the United States Infantry from April 11, 1792, to February 28, 1793.
He served as member of the State house of representatives of the first legislature of Kentucky in 1792. He served in the State senate in 1800 and 1801. He opposed Kentucky becoming a slave state, but was unsuccessful in this effort.[2][3]
Bedinger was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Eighth and Ninth Congresses (March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1807). He engaged in agricultural pursuits. While Bedinger inherited several slaves from his brother, he freed the slaves he owned personally when they reached the age of 30, and reportedly offered to pay for their passage to Liberia, though only one accepted.[2]
He died at Blue Licks Springs, Kentucky, December 7, 1843. He was interred in the family cemetery on his farm near Lower Blue Licks Springs, Kentucky.
References
- "Congress slaveowners", The Washington Post, 2022-01-27, retrieved 2022-01-30
- "Bedingers in Kentucky During Slavery". Bedinger Family History and Genealogy. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
- "Patriot-Pioneer Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
- United States Congress. "George M. Bedinger (id: B000301)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2009-5-20
- Allen, William B. (1872). A History of Kentucky: Embracing Gleanings, Reminiscences, Antiquities, Natural Curiosities, Statistics, and Biographical Sketches of Pioneers, Soldiers, Jurists, Lawyers, Statesmen, Divines, Mechanics, Farmers, Merchants, and Other Leading Men, of All Occupations and Pursuits. Bradley & Gilbert. pp. 54–55. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.