| The Hon. James Rea Benson | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for Lincoln |
|
| In office 1867–1868 |
|
| Succeeded by | Thomas Rodman Merritt |
| Senator for St. Catharines, Ontario | |
| In office 1868–1885 |
|
| Appointed by | John A. Macdonald |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 21, 1807 Ireland |
| Died | March 18, 1885 (aged 78) |
| Political party | Liberal-Conservative |
James Rea Benson (January 21, 1807 – March 18, 1885) was an Ontario businessman and political figure. He represented Lincoln in the 1st Canadian Parliament as a Liberal-Conservative member until March 14, 1868, when he was named to the Senate of Canada for St. Catharines.[1]
He was born in Ireland in 1807[1] and came to Kingston in Upper Canada with his family in 1819. He later moved to St. Catharines, where he was a hardware merchant,[2] also operating mills and ships in partnership with Thomas Rodman Merritt.[3] Benson was president of the Niagara District Bank, the Welland Loan Company and the St. Catharines Gas Company.[2] He served on the town council for St. Catharines and on the council for Lincoln County.[1] He died in 1885 in Ottawa while still in office.[4]
The city of St. Catharines purchased his residence and used it for some time as the city hall.[5]
Benson married the daughter of Charles Ingersoll.[2] His daughter Helen married Calvin Brown, the first mayor of St. Catharines.[5] His niece, Mary Benson, the daughter of his brother Thomas, married Thomas Rodman Merritt.[6]