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Benjamin Franklin Butler (politician)

Benjamin Butler
Benjamin Franklin Butler Brady-Handy.jpg
Portrait by Brady-Handy studio, 1870s
33rd Governor of Massachusetts
In office
January 4, 1883 – January 3, 1884
Lieutenant Oliver Ames
Preceded by John D. Long
Succeeded by George D. Robinson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 7th district
In office
March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1879
Preceded by John K. Tarbox
Succeeded by William A. Russell
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 6th district
In office
March 4, 1873 – March 4, 1875
Preceded by Nathaniel P. Banks
Succeeded by Charles Perkins Thompson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 5th district
In office
March 4, 1867 – March 4, 1873
Preceded by John B. Alley
Succeeded by Daniel W. Gooch
Member of the
Massachusetts Senate
In office
1859–1859
Preceded by Arthur P. Bonney
Succeeded by Ephraim B. Patch
Personal details
Born Benjamin Franklin Butler
(1818-11-05)November 5, 1818
Deerfield, New Hampshire
Died January 11, 1893(1893-01-11) (aged 74)
Washington, D.C.
Resting place Hildreth Family Cemetery
Lowell, Massachusetts
42°39′39″N 71°18′36″W / 42.660798°N 71.309928°W / 42.660798; -71.309928
Political party Democratic (1840–1854)
Republican (1854–1874)
Democratic and/or Greenback (1874–1889)
Spouse(s) Sarah Hildreth (1844–1876)
Children Paul I (1845–1850)
Blanche
Paul II (1852–1918)
Ben-Israel
Signature
Military service
Allegiance

United States of America

Service/branch U.S. Army (Union Army)
Rank Union Army major general rank insignia.svg Major general
Commands Department of Virginia
Department of the Gulf
Army of the James
Battles/wars

American Civil War


United States of America

American Civil War

Benjamin Franklin Butler (November 5, 1818 – January 11, 1893) was an American lawyer, politician, soldier and businessman from Massachusetts. Born in New Hampshire and raised in Lowell, Massachusetts, Butler is best known as a political major general of the Union Army during the American Civil War, and for his leadership role in the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson. He was a colorful and often controversial figure on the national stage and in the Massachusetts political scene, where he served one term as Governor.

Butler, a successful trial lawyer, served in the Massachusetts legislature as an antiwar Democrat and as an officer in the state militia. Early in the Civil War he joined the Union Army, where he was noted for his lack of military skill, and his controversial command of New Orleans, which brought him wide dislike in the South and the "Beast" epithet. He helped create the legal idea of effectively freeing fugitive slaves by designating them as contraband of war in service of military objectives, which led to a political groundswell in the North which included general emancipation and the end of slavery as official war goals. His commands were marred by financial and logistical dealings across enemy lines, some of which probably took place with his knowledge and to his financial benefit.


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