Benjamin Wilson (congressman)
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Wilson was a Democratic
politician
who served as a United States Representative from West Virginia
. He was born in Wilsonburg, Virginia (now West Virginia) in Harrison County
. Wilson was elected from West Virginia's 1st District
to the 44th United States Congress
and to the next three Congresses (March 4, 1875-March 3, 1883).
Wilson attended the Northwestern Virginia Academy in Clarksburg, Virginia
(now West Virginia
) and the law school in Staunton, Virginia
. 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. Congressman Wilson died on April 26, 1901 in Clarksburg and was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery there.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as a United States Representative from West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. He was born in Wilsonburg, Virginia (now West Virginia) in Harrison County
Harrison County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 68,652 people, 27,867 households, and 19,088 families residing in the county. The population density was 165 people per square mile . There were 31,112 housing units at an average density of 75 per square mile...
. Wilson was elected from West Virginia's 1st District
West Virginia's 1st congressional district
West Virginia's 1st congressional district is located in the northern part of the state. It is the most regularly drawn of the state's three districts....
to the 44th United States Congress
44th United States Congress
The Forty-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1875 to March 4, 1877, during the seventh and...
and to the next three Congresses (March 4, 1875-March 3, 1883).
Wilson attended the Northwestern Virginia Academy in Clarksburg, Virginia
Clarksburg, West Virginia
Clarksburg is a city in and the county seat of Harrison County, West Virginia, United States, in the north-central region of the state. It is the principal city of the Clarksburg, WV Micropolitan Statistical Area...
(now West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
) and the law school in Staunton, Virginia
Staunton, Virginia
Staunton is an independent city within the confines of Augusta County in the commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 23,746 as of 2010. It is the county seat of Augusta County....
. He was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
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
Constitutional convention (political meeting)
A constitutional convention is now a gathering for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing constitution. A general constitutional convention is called to create the first constitution of a political unit or to entirely replace an existing constitution...
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
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in 1872. He made an unsuccessful bid for election in 1872 to the 43rd United States Congress
43rd United States Congress
The Forty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1873 to March 4, 1875, during the fifth and sixth...
. 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. Congressman Wilson died on April 26, 1901 in Clarksburg and was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery there.