Benjamin Lynde Jr. (October 5, 1700 – October 9, 1781) was a justice of the

Massachusetts Superior Court of Judicature The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Although the claim is disputed by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the SJC claims the distinction of being the oldest continuously fun ...

from 1745 to 1771, serving as chief justice from 1769 to 1771. He was appointed by Governor

William Shirley William Shirley (2 December 1694 – 24 March 1771) was a British colonial administrator who served as the governor of the British American colonies of Massachusetts Bay and the Bahamas. He is best known for his role in organizing the succ ...

. Born in

Salem, Massachusetts Salem ( ) is a historic coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, located on the North Shore (Massachusetts), North Shore of Greater Boston. Continuous settlement by Europeans began in 1626 with English colonists. Salem was one ...

, His father, Benjamin Lynde Sr., was also an attorney and a judge. Lynde graduated

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

in 1718. In 1739 he was appointed Judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas for Essex County and in 1745 he was appointed to the Massachusetts Superior Court of Judicature as an associate justice. In 1769 he was appointed chief justice. In 1771, he resigned from his position as Chief Justice and was appointed Judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas for Essex County. He held that position until his death on October 9, 1781.

References

1700 births 1781 deaths 18th-century American lawyers People from colonial Massachusetts Lawyers from Salem, Massachusetts Harvard University alumni Justices of the Massachusetts Superior Court of Judicature {{Massachusetts-state-judge-stub