James Rea Benson
Canadian politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Rea Benson (January 21, 1807 – March 18, 1885) was a Canadian businessman and politician. 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.[1]
James Rea Benson | |
|---|---|
| |
| Member of Parliament for Lincoln | |
| In office 1867–1868 | |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Rodman Merritt |
| Canadian Senator from Ontario | |
| In office 1868–1885 | |
| Appointed by | John A. Macdonald |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 21, 1807 Ireland |
| Died | March 18, 1885 (aged 78) |
| Party | Liberal-Conservative |
Background
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 son Sir Frederick William Benson was a British Army officer. His niece, Mary Benson, the daughter of his brother Thomas, married Thomas Rodman Merritt.[6]
Electoral record
| 1867 Canadian federal election: Lincoln | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | ||||||
| Liberal–Conservative | James Rea Benson | acclaimed | ||||||
