The Biographical Dictionary of America/Angel, Benjamin Franklin

ANGEL, Benjamin Franklin, diplomatist, was born in Burlington, N. Y., Oct. 28, 1815. He received an academic education in Geneseo, N. Y., and for several years before he reached his majority he wrote leading political editorials in the democratic newspapers of the town. In 1836 he was admitted to the bar and afterwards was twice elected surrogate of the county. He later held the offices of supreme court commissioner and master and examiner in chancery. In 1852 he was a delegate to the democratic national convention, and in 1853 was appointed by President Pierce consul at Honolulu. In the senate his nomination was rejected while Mr. Angel was discharging his official duties ten thousand miles from home. He returned to the United States by the way of China, the East Indies, Egypt, and through Europe, and wrote interesting letters of his tour. In 1857 he was appointed minister to Sweden by President Buchanan, where he remained until 1862. In 1864 he was a delegate to the Chicago democratic convention. In 1873 and 1874 he was president of the New York state agricultural society. He died at Geneseo, N. Y., Sept. 12, 1894.