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Benjamin Franklin Martin (October 2, 1828 – January 20, 1895) was an American politician. A Democrat, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives from West Virginia.

Biography

Martin was born on October 2, 1828, in Farmington, Virginia (now West Virginia). He was presumably named for polymath Benjamin Franklin.[1] In June 1854, he graduated from Allegheny College, after which he worked as an educator in Fairmont. He studied law, being admitted to the bar and commencing practice in March 1856. Also in 1856, he moved to Pruntytown.[2] For a time, he was president of the Grafton and Greenbrier Railroad.[3]

Martin was a Democrat.[1] He was a delegate to the 1872 West Virginia Constitutional Convention. He was also a delegate to the 1872 and 1888 Democratic National Conventions.[2] In 1872, he unsuccessfully ran for West Virginia’s 2nd district of the United States House of Representatives.[4] He served in the House from March 4, 1877, to March 3, 1881, representing the 2nd district.[2] In Congress, he was a member of the Committee on Private Land Claims and On the Pacific Railroad.[5] He was not nominated for the following election.[2] He was a Presidential Elector in 1884, as which he voted for Grover Cleveland and Thomas A. Hendricks.[1] Politically, he leaned liberal and was loyal to his party.[6]

After serving in Congress, Martin returned to practicing law, in Grafton.[2] He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.[7] He died on January 20, 1895, aged 66, in Grafton. He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery.[2] Since 1970, an archive of his paper has been held by West Virginia University.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c “The Political Graveyard: Marion County, W.Va”. politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e f “Martin, Benjamin Franklin”. bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  3. ^ Tyler, Lyon Gardiner (1915). Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Under the Editorial Supervision of Lyon Gardiner Tyler. Lewis historical publishing Company. p. 762.
  4. ^ “Democratic Nominations”. Spirit of Jefferson. September 10, 1872. p. 2. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  5. ^ Western Land Owner. H. N. Copp. 1874. p. 30.
  6. ^ “MARTIN, Benjamin Franklin (1828-1895)”. Voteview. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  7. ^ Conferences, Methodist Episcopal Church General (1892). Journal of the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church … G. Lane & C. B. Tippett. p. 12.
  8. ^ “Hon. Benjamin Franklin Martin, Methodist churchman and statesman”. West Virginia University. Retrieved May 9, 2026.