Benjamin B. Redding
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Barnard Redding (January 17, 1824 – August 21, 1882) was a Canadian
-born state official of California
, politician
and land agent with the Central Pacific Railroad
. The town of Redding, California
, was named for him.
Born in Yarmouth
, Nova Scotia
, he was educated at Yarmouth Academy. In 1840, he moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where he worked as a clerk. He entered the retail grocery
and ship chandlery
business in 1843.
In 1849, Redding organized a company of men and sailed from Yarmouth for the gold rush
in California, where they arrived on May 12, 1850. He went to the Yuba River
diggings and afterward to the Pittsburg bar
, working as a mining
laborer
. He subsequently was associate editor
of the Shasta Journal, was employed in drawing up papers for the sale of claims, acted as arbitrator
, and was elected as a member of the California State Assembly
, 1853-1854, from Yuba
and Sierra
counties. During the session, he wrote for the San Joaquin Republican and Sacramento
's Democratic State Journal, of which he was an editor and proprietor.
His wife was Mary P.; they were the parents of William Redding (born ca. 1848 in Massachusetts); J. Albert Redding (born ca. 1850 in Massachusetts); George H. Redding (born ca. 1856 in California); and Joseph D. Redding (1859 in Sacramento-1932 in San Francisco).
In 1856, Redding was elected mayor
of Sacramento. From 1863 to 1867, he was Secretary of State. He became land agent of the Central Pacific Railroad
in 1868. When the Central Pacific reached Shasta County
in the summer of 1872, the railroad company named the town of Redding, California
, in his honor.
Redding was appointed a regent
of the University of California
to fill the unexpired term of Regent Frank M. Pixley
, 1880-1882. He was reappointed in 1882. He was a member of the California Academy of Sciences
, and of the Geographical Society of the Pacific. He was interested in all scientific work, especially in the paleontology
of the coast, and collected numerous prehistoric and aboriginal relics, which he presented to the museum of the academy. He contributed a large number of papers to various California journals. He was also a California Fish Commissioner, holding this office at the time of his death.
Benjamin B. Redding died at age 58 of apoplexy
in San Francisco. His funeral service took place at the First Congregational Church on August 23, 1882, with a large number of friends and acquaintances present, including a delegation from the offices of the Central Pacific Railroad Company and the Academy of Sciences, besides a number of regents from the State University.
Redding is interred in the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery
in Sacramento, California
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
-born state official of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and land agent with the Central Pacific Railroad
Central Pacific Railroad
The Central Pacific Railroad is the former name of the railroad network built between California and Utah, USA that formed part of the "First Transcontinental Railroad" in North America. It is now part of the Union Pacific Railroad. Many 19th century national proposals to build a transcontinental...
. The town of Redding, California
Redding, California
Redding is a city in far-Northern California. It is the county seat of Shasta County, California, USA. With a population of 89,861, according to the 2010 Census...
, was named for him.
Born in Yarmouth
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Yarmouth is a town and fishing port located on the Gulf of Maine in rural southwestern Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the shire town of Yarmouth County. The town is located in the heart of the world's largest lobster fishing grounds and has Canada's highest lobster catch.- History :The townsite may...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, he was educated at Yarmouth Academy. In 1840, he moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where he worked as a clerk. He entered the retail grocery
Grocer
A grocer is a bulk seller of food. Beginning as early as the 14th century, a grocer was a dealer in comestible dry goods such as spices, pepper, sugar, and cocoa, tea and coffee...
and ship chandlery
Ship chandler
A ship chandler is a retail dealer in special supplies or equipment for ships.For traditional sailing ships items that could be found in a chandler might include: rosin, turpentine, tar, pitch , linseed oil, whale oil, tallow, lard, varnish, twine, rope and cordage, hemp, oakum, tools A ship...
business in 1843.
In 1849, Redding organized a company of men and sailed from Yarmouth for the gold rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
in California, where they arrived on May 12, 1850. He went to the Yuba River
Yuba River
The Yuba River is a tributary of the Feather River in the Sacramento Valley of the U.S. state of California. It is one of the Feather's most important branches, providing about a third of its flow. The main stem of the river is about long, and its headwaters are split into North, Middle and South...
diggings and afterward to the Pittsburg bar
El Dorado County, California
El Dorado County is a county located in the historic Gold Country in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and foothills of the U.S. state of California. The 2010 population was 181,058. The El Dorado county seat is in Placerville....
, working as a mining
Gold mining
Gold mining is the removal of gold from the ground. There are several techniques and processes by which gold may be extracted from the earth.-History:...
laborer
Laborer
A Laborer or labourer - see variation in english spelling - is one of the construction trades, traditionally considered unskilled manual labor, as opposed to skilled labor. In the division of labor, laborers have all blasting, hand tools, power tools, air tools, and small heavy equipment, and act...
. He subsequently was associate editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
of the Shasta Journal, was employed in drawing up papers for the sale of claims, acted as arbitrator
Arbitration
Arbitration, a form of alternative dispute resolution , is a legal technique for the resolution of disputes outside the courts, where the parties to a dispute refer it to one or more persons , by whose decision they agree to be bound...
, and was elected as a member of the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
, 1853-1854, from Yuba
Yuba County, California
Yuba County is a county located in the U.S. state of California's Central Valley, north of Sacramento, along the Feather River. As of the 2010 census, its population was 72,155. The county seat is Marysville. Yuba County is part of the Greater Sacramento area.-History:Yuba County was one of the...
and Sierra
Sierra County, California
Sierra County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California, northeast of Sacramento on the border with Nevada. As of the 2010 census the population was 3,240, down from 3,555 at the 2000 census. The county seat is Downieville....
counties. During the session, he wrote for the San Joaquin Republican and Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
's Democratic State Journal, of which he was an editor and proprietor.
His wife was Mary P.; they were the parents of William Redding (born ca. 1848 in Massachusetts); J. Albert Redding (born ca. 1850 in Massachusetts); George H. Redding (born ca. 1856 in California); and Joseph D. Redding (1859 in Sacramento-1932 in San Francisco).
In 1856, Redding was elected mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Sacramento. From 1863 to 1867, he was Secretary of State. He became land agent of the Central Pacific Railroad
Central Pacific Railroad
The Central Pacific Railroad is the former name of the railroad network built between California and Utah, USA that formed part of the "First Transcontinental Railroad" in North America. It is now part of the Union Pacific Railroad. Many 19th century national proposals to build a transcontinental...
in 1868. When the Central Pacific reached Shasta County
Shasta County, California
Shasta County is a county located in the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The county occupies the northern reaches of the Sacramento Valley, with portions extending into the southern reaches of the Cascade Range. As of the 2010 census, the population was 177,223, up from 163,256...
in the summer of 1872, the railroad company named the town of Redding, California
Redding, California
Redding is a city in far-Northern California. It is the county seat of Shasta County, California, USA. With a population of 89,861, according to the 2010 Census...
, in his honor.
Redding was appointed a regent
Regents of the University of California
The Regents of the University of California make up the governing board of the University of California. The Board has 26 full members:* The majority are appointed by the Governor of California for 12-year terms....
of the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
to fill the unexpired term of Regent Frank M. Pixley
Frank M. Pixley
Frank Morrison Pixley was an American journalist and politician who served briefly as the Attorney General of California....
, 1880-1882. He was reappointed in 1882. He was a member of the California Academy of Sciences
California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is among the largest museums of natural history in the world. The academy began in 1853 as a learned society and still carries out a large amount of original research, with exhibits and education becoming significant endeavors of the museum during the twentieth...
, and of the Geographical Society of the Pacific. He was interested in all scientific work, especially in the paleontology
Paleontology
Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
of the coast, and collected numerous prehistoric and aboriginal relics, which he presented to the museum of the academy. He contributed a large number of papers to various California journals. He was also a California Fish Commissioner, holding this office at the time of his death.
Benjamin B. Redding died at age 58 of apoplexy
Apoplexy
Apoplexy is a medical term, which can be used to describe 'bleeding' in a stroke . Without further specification, it is rather outdated in use. Today it is used only for specific conditions, such as pituitary apoplexy and ovarian apoplexy. In common speech, it is used non-medically to mean a state...
in San Francisco. His funeral service took place at the First Congregational Church on August 23, 1882, with a large number of friends and acquaintances present, including a delegation from the offices of the Central Pacific Railroad Company and the Academy of Sciences, besides a number of regents from the State University.
Redding is interred in the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery
Sacramento Historic City Cemetery
The Sacramento Historic City Cemetery , located at 1000 Broadway, at 10th Street, is the oldest existing cemetery in Sacramento, California. The cemetery is located at the highest point in Sacramento...
in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
.
External links
- Redding.CA.US - Benjamin B. Redding
- Benjamin B. Redding at the Political Graveyard