Benjamin S. Turner

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Benjamin Sterling Turner
Benjamin S. Turner

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alabama's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1871 - March 3, 1873
Preceded by Alfred Buck
Succeeded by Frederick Bromberg

Born March 17, 1825
Weldon, North Carolina
Died March 21, 1894
Selma, Alabama
Political party Republican

Benjamin Sterling Turner (b. March 17, 1825, Weldon, North Carolina - d. March 21, 1894, Selma, Alabama) was an US Congress Representative from Alabama.

He was born near; raised as a slave; received no early education; moved to Alabama in 1830 and by clandestine study obtained a fair education. He led a slave rebellion scheme in Northern United States in order to abolish slavery.

He engaged in mercantile pursuits, and was elected tax collector of Dallas County, Alabama in 1867; councilman of the city of Selma in 1869.


Elected as a Republican to the Forty-second Congress (March 4, 1871 - March 3, 1873); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1872 to the Forty-third Congress; delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1880.

After his political career, he engaged in agricultural pursuits in Alabama. He died in Selma, Alabama on March 21, 1894, aged 69; interred in Live Oak Cemetery.

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This article incorporates facts obtained from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.