Christie Benet
Encyclopedia
Christie Benet was a Democratic Party
politician who briefly represented the state of South Carolina
in the U.S. Senate in 1918.
Benet was born in Abbeville, South Carolina
; he attended the common schools in his youth, and matriculated at the College of Charleston
, the University of South Carolina
, and the University of Virginia
. He studied the law, and upon his admission to the bar began practice in Columbia, South Carolina
, in 1903. Solicitor
of the fifth judicial circuit in 1908, Benet became Columbia's city attorney
from 1910 to 1912. He was the secretary of the Democratic State committee three times; on July 6, 1918 he was appointed to the Senate to fill out the term of Benjamin R. Tillman, who died in office. He served unil November 5, when a successor to the position was elected; Benet himself was an unsuccessful candidate in the same election to fill the vacancy. During his brief time in the Senate, Benet was the chairman of the Committee on National Banks; upon his defeat, he resumed his practice. From 1915 he was a member of the board of regents
of the South Carolina State Hospital, later becoming the chairman of the board; in this capacity he served until 1946. During World War II
Benet chaired the War Finance Committee for South Carolina, and was serving as the chairman of the Alien Enemy Hearing Board for the state's eastern district at his death; he died in Columbia, and was interred locally in Elmwood Cemetery.
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 who briefly represented the state of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
in the U.S. Senate in 1918.
Benet was born in Abbeville, South Carolina
Abbeville, South Carolina
For other communities of the same name, see Abbeville .Abbeville is a city in Abbeville County, South Carolina, United States, 86 miles west of Columbia. Its population was 5,237 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Abbeville County...
; he attended the common schools in his youth, and matriculated at the College of Charleston
College of Charleston
The College of Charleston is a public, sea-grant and space-grant university located in historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina, United States...
, the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
, and the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. He studied the law, and upon his admission to the bar began practice in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
, in 1903. Solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
of the fifth judicial circuit in 1908, Benet became Columbia's city attorney
City attorney
A city attorney can be an elected or appointed position in city and municipal government in the United States. The city attorney is the attorney representing the city or municipality....
from 1910 to 1912. He was the secretary of the Democratic State committee three times; on July 6, 1918 he was appointed to the Senate to fill out the term of Benjamin R. Tillman, who died in office. He served unil November 5, when a successor to the position was elected; Benet himself was an unsuccessful candidate in the same election to fill the vacancy. During his brief time in the Senate, Benet was the chairman of the Committee on National Banks; upon his defeat, he resumed his practice. From 1915 he was a member of the board of regents
Board of Regents
In the United States, a board often governs public institutions of higher education, which include both state universities and community colleges. In each US state, such boards may govern either the state university system, individual colleges and universities, or both. In general they operate as...
of the South Carolina State Hospital, later becoming the chairman of the board; in this capacity he served until 1946. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Benet chaired the War Finance Committee for South Carolina, and was serving as the chairman of the Alien Enemy Hearing Board for the state's eastern district at his death; he died in Columbia, and was interred locally in Elmwood Cemetery.