Benjamin Chew

Benjamin Chew
An illustration of Chew, c. 1890
Judge and President of the Pennsylvania High Court of Errors and Appeals
In office 1791 – 1808
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
In office 1774 – 1777
Register-General of Wills of Pennsylvania
In office 1765 – 1777
Master of Rolls of Pennsylvania
In office 1755 – 1774
Recorder of Philadelphia
In office 1755–1774
Attorney General of Pennsylvania
In office 1754–1769
Speaker of the Lower House for the Delaware counties
In office 1753–1758
Personal details
Born	(1722-11-19)November 19, 1722 Anne Arundel County, Maryland Colony, British America
Died	January 20, 1810(1810-01-20) (aged 87) Cliveden, Germantown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Spouse	Elizabeth Oswald
Children	11, including Peggy
Alma mater	Middle Temple
Occupation	Lawyer, Judge, Chief Justice, High Court President
Signature

Benjamin Chew (November 19, 1722 – January 20, 1810) was an American lawyer and judge who served as the chief justice of the Supreme Court of the Province of Pennsylvania and later the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Born into a Quaker family, Chew was known for precision and brevity in his legal arguments and his excellent memory, judgment, and knowledge of statutory law. His primary allegiance was to the supremacy of law and the constitution.

Trained in law at an early age by Andrew Hamilton, Chew inherited his mentor's clients, the descendants of William Penn, including Thomas Penn and his brother Richard Penn Sr., and their sons, Governor John Penn, Richard Penn Jr., and John Penn. The Penn family was the basis of his private practice, and he represented them for six decades. He was also a slave owner.

Chew had a lifelong personal friendship with George Washington,^[1] who is said to have treated Chew's children "as if they were his own."^[2] Chew lived and practiced law in Center City Philadelphia, four blocks from the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, and provided pro bono legal counsel on substantive law to America's Founding Fathers during their creation of the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights.