Benjamin White Norris

For other people with the same name, see Benjamin Norris (disambiguation).

Benjamin White Norris (January 22, 1819 – January 26, 1873) was an American politician. A member of the Republican Party he U.S. Representative from Alabama.

Benjamin White Norris
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 3rd district
In office July 21, 1868 – March 3, 1869
Preceded by	David Clopton
Succeeded by	Robert Stell Heflin
Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party
In office 1868–1870
Land Agent of the State of Maine
In office 1860–1863
Member of the Alabama constitutional convention
In office 1868
Personal details
Born	Benjamin White Norris (1819-01-22)January 22, 1819 Monmouth, Maine, U.S.
Died	January 26, 1873(1873-01-26) (aged 54) Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
Resting place	South Cemetery, Skowhegan
Party	Republican
Profession	Lawyer

Early life and education

Born on January 22, 1819, in Monmouth, Maine.

Norris prepared for college at Monmouth Academy, and graduated from Waterville College (now Colby College), Maine, in 1843. He taught one term in Kents Hill Seminary. He engaged in the grocery business in Skowhegan, Maine. He served as delegate to the Free-Soil Convention at Buffalo in 1848. He went to California in 1849, remaining one year, then returned to Skowhegan, and studied law.

He was admitted to the bar of Somerset County in January 1852 and commenced practice there.

Political career

Norris served as land agent for the State of Maine, 1860–1863, and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1864. He served as paymaster in the Union Army in 1864 and 1865. He was appointed major and additional paymaster in the Bureau of Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, serving from May 1 to August 2, 1865, at Mobile, Alabama.

Norris resided on a plantation in Wetumpka, Elmore County until 1872. He served as a member of the constitutional convention of Alabama in 1868. Upon the readmission of Alabama to representation, he was elected as a Republican to the Fortieth Congress and served from July 21, 1868, to March 3, 1869. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1870 to the Forty-second Congress. He was also the 2nd Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, holding the position from 1868 to 1870.

Death

He died in Montgomery, Alabama, January 26, 1873. He was interred in South Cemetery, Skowhegan, Maine.

References

• United States Congress. "Benjamin White Norris (id: N000138)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

External links

• Biography portal

• Benjamin White Norris at Find a Grave

 This article incorporates public domain material from Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Federal government of the United States.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by District inactive	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 3rd congressional district July 21, 1868 - March 3, 1869	Succeeded by Robert S. Heflin