Benjamin Flanders

Benjamin Franklin Flanders ( born January 26, 1816 in Bristol, New Hampshire, † March 13, 1896 in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana ) was an American politician and 1867-1868 Governor of the State of Louisiana.

Early years and political rise

Flanders attended the New Hampton Academy and then to 1842 Dartmouth College. The following year he moved to New Orleans in Louisiana, where he studied law. But he has never worked as a lawyer. Instead, he worked as a teacher. In addition, he edited the newspaper "New Orleans Tropic ".

Between 1847 and 1852 Flanders was a town councilor in New Orleans. In 1850 he was also Council ( superintendent of public schools ) in this city. Between 1852 and 1861 he was on the board of the railway company Opelousas and Great Western Railroad. The secession of Louisiana because he did not want to join them, he had to flee at the beginning of the Civil War from New Orleans. In 1862 he returned, after the capture of New Orleans by the Union troops back into this city back. Between July and December 1862, he was there treasurer and between December 3, 1862 to March 3, 1863, he represented the area occupied by the Union of Louisiana in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington.

In July and August 1863, he was one of the Union assumed regiment from Louisiana for a short time captain. From 1863 to 1866 he was Special Representative for the Southern District, which included the territories occupied by the Union in areas of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and the western Florida on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Finance. In this capacity, he sold, among other things confiscated cotton. In 1864 he had applied unsuccessfully for the office of governor of Louisiana. During this time, Flanders was also one of the founders of the Republican Party in Louisiana. He campaigned for voting rights of blacks. He was also the first president of the First National Bank of New Orleans.

Governor of Louisiana and mayor of New Orleans

After it had come in 1867 between the military commander in Louisiana, General Philip Sheridan, and Governor James Madison Wells serious differences, the General dismissed the governor and appointed on June 3, Benjamin Flanders as his successor. This office he held only half a year out until 8 January 1868. The reason for his resignation was the dismissal of all radical Republican officials from the government by the new military commander, General Winfield Scott Hancock. The General appointed Joshua Baker to Flanders successor.

In 1870, Flanders was appointed by then- Governor Henry C. Warmoth for mayor of New Orleans and then officially elected to this office, which he then exercised 1870-1872. From 1873 to 1882 he was deputy head of the U.S. financial authorities in New Orleans ( Assistant Treasurer of the United States at New Orleans). In 1888 he applied unsuccessfully for the post of Finance Minister of Louisiana. Benjamin Flanders died in 1896. Together with his wife Susan H. Sawyer he had six children.

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