Benedict Crowell

Benedict Crowell (October 21, 1869 – September 8, 1952) was a United States military officer and politician particularly influential in military organization during and following World War I. He was United States Assistant Secretary of War from 1917 to 1920.

Benedict Crowell
United States Assistant Secretary of War
In office 1917–1920
President	Woodrow Wilson
Preceded by	William Moulton Ingraham
Succeeded by	William Reid Williams
President of the NRA
In office 1930–1931
Preceded by	Patrick J. Hurley
Succeeded by	G. A. Fraser
Personal details
Born	(1869-10-21)October 21, 1869 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Died	September 8, 1952(1952-09-08) (aged 82) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery
Spouse	Julia Cobb ​ (m. 1904)​
Education	Yale University (Ph.D., M.A.)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	Army Reserve
Rank	Brigadier general

Biography

Benedict Crowell was born on October 21, 1869, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Mary (née Benedict) and William Crowell.^[1]

He attended Yale University, where he was admitted to the Zeta Psi fraternity, graduating in 1891 with both a Ph.D. and M.A. He returned to Cleveland to pursue a business career in steel and mining, and married Julia Cobb in December 1904.

As the First World War loomed, he rose quickly through the ranks of the United States Army Reserve, being made first an honorary major on his entry in 1916, and eventually a brigadier general before being tapped for political positions.^[2][3]

During the war he went on to serve as Assistant Secretary of War and Director of Munitions, founded the Army Ordnance Association in 1919, and eventually became a special consultant to the Secretary of War during World War II.^[2]

He remained influential and active in politics between the wars, serving as a principal framer of the National Defense Act of 1920, and was president of the Army Ordnance Association, a lobbying group, for a quarter of a century.^[2]

In December 1922 he was indicted with six others for conspiracy to defraud the US Government on contracts for construction of war camps.^[4][3] The indictment was dismissed on January 30, 1925.^[3]

He served as president of the National Rifle Association of America 1930–1931.^[5]

Crowell married Julia Cobb of Cleveland in December 1904. They had two children, Florence and Benedict.^[1] He died in Cleveland on September 8, 1952. He is buried with his wife in Arlington National Cemetery.^[6]

Air crash

On 8 October 1919, Crowell was involved in an aviation accident at Roosevelt Field, Long Island, New York.

“MINEOLA, L. I., Oct. 8. – Benedict Crowell, assistant secretary of war, narrowly escaped injury this afternoon when an airplane in which he was riding, fell 50 feet to the ground here and overturned. Both Crowell and his pilot, Maurice Cleary, were buried under the machine, but escaped with a shaking up. The accident occurred when Cleary tried to avoid striking a hangar. Crowell announced his intention at once of going up in another machine.”^[7]