Benjamin Whitaker was surveyor general for the Province of South Carolina.[1] He was initially deputy surveyor (under James St. John),[2] but rose to attorney general (1721–1731),[3] judge of the court of vice-admiralty (1727–1732 and 1732–1736),[4] speaker of the assembly (1742–1744)[5] and chief justice (1739–1749).[6][7] He was removed from the role of chief justice for "being paralytic".[8]
He was regarded as one of the best lawyers of his time.[9][10]
Whitaker Street in Savannah, Georgia, is now named for him.[11]
On May 20, 1719, Whitaker married Sarah Godfrey, daughter of Captain John Godfrey.[12] She died on December 29, 1747, and was interred in St. Philip's Church Episcopal Cemetery in Charleston, South Carolina.[13]