Benjamin Wilson (congressman)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Benjamin Wilson was a Democratic politician who served as a United States Representative from West Virginia. He was born in Wilsonburg, West Virginia {then Virginia) in Harrison County on April 30, 1825. Was elected to the 44th United States Congress and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1875-March 3, 1883). He died in Clarksburg, West Virginia on April 26, 1901.

He attended the Northwestern Virginia Academy at Clarksburg and the law school in Staunton, Viginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1848 and commenced practice in Clarksburg.. He served as commonwealth attorney for Harrison County from 1852 to 1860. He was member of the State constitutional convention in 1861 and a member of the State constitutional convention of West Virginia in 1871. He served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1872. He made an unsuccessful bid for election in 1872 to the 43rd United States Congress. He was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-fourth and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1875 - March 3, 1883). He served as Assistant Attorney General of the United States from 1885 to 1893. He died in Clarksburg. April 26, 1901 and was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery.