Benjamin S. Turner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benjamin Sterling Turner
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 1st district |
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| In office March 4, 1871 - March 3, 1873 |
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| Preceded by | Alfred Buck |
| Succeeded by | Frederick Bromberg |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 17, 1825 Weldon, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | March 21, 1894 (aged 69) Selma, Alabama, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
Benjamin Sterling Turner (born March 17, 1825 – died March 21, 1894) was an important American businessman and politician. He made history by serving in the United States House of Representatives for Alabama, representing its first district. This means he was a lawmaker for the entire country!
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Benjamin Turner's Early Life
Benjamin Turner was born into slavery on March 17, 1825, in Halifax County, North Carolina. His parents were also enslaved. When he was just five years old, he and his mother were moved to Alabama as part of the slave trade.
Because he was enslaved, Benjamin did not get to go to school. However, he secretly studied on his own and managed to get a good education. He remained enslaved until 1863, when the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, which declared many enslaved people free.
Life and Work After Slavery
After gaining his freedom, Benjamin Turner became a successful businessman. He worked in trade and opened a stable for horses in Selma, Alabama. By 1870, he had built up a lot of wealth, showing how hard he worked.
He joined the Republican Party after the American Civil War. In 1867, he was elected as the tax collector for Dallas County, Alabama. He also served as a councilman for the city of Selma in 1869.
Benjamin Turner's Family Life
In 1857, Benjamin Turner married an enslaved woman he cared for deeply. They had a son named Osceola. Later, on December 2, 1872, Turner married Ella Todd.
Benjamin Turner's Political Career
After the Civil War, formerly enslaved people, known as freedmen, gained the right to vote. This was a big change! Benjamin Turner was chosen by the Republican Party to run for Congress in Alabama's first district. Everyone in his party agreed he was the right choice.
He was elected to the Forty-second Congress, serving from March 4, 1871, to March 3, 1873. In Congress, he worked to help people who had fought against the United States in the Civil War get their political rights back. He also fought to remove a tax on cotton, because he believed it hurt poor African Americans.
Running for Re-election
In 1872, Benjamin Turner ran for Congress again. However, another African American man, Philip Joseph, also ran as an independent candidate. This split the votes among Republicans. Because of this, F. G. Bromberg, who was supported by two different parties, won the election instead.
Later Political Life
Even after losing his seat in Congress, Benjamin Turner remained involved in politics. In 1880, he was chosen as a delegate to the Republican National Convention, a big meeting where the party decides its plans.
After his time in politics, Turner returned to farming in Alabama. He passed away in Selma, Alabama, on March 21, 1894, at the age of 69. He was buried in Old Live Oak Cemetery.
See also
