Benjamin Wilson (congressman)

Benjamin Wilson (April 30, 1825 – April 26, 1901) 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 Virginia Secession 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.

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

References

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by John James Davis	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from West Virginia's 1st congressional district 1875-1883	Succeeded by Nathan Goff