Benjamin Franklin FLANDERS, Congress, LA (1816-1896)

FLANDERS, Benjamin Franklin, a Representative from Louisiana; born in Bristol, Grafton County, N.H., January 26, 1816; attended New Hampton (N.H.) Academy, and was graduated from Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., in 1842; moved to New Orleans in 1843; studied law, but never practiced; edited the New Orleans Tropic in 1845; elected alderman of New Orleans in 1847; superintendent of public schools in 1850; reelected alderman in 1852; assisted in organizing the New Orleans, Opelousas & Great Western Railroad Co.; secretary and treasurer of the company 1852-1861; appointed city treasurer by General Butler July 20, 1862, and served until December 10 of the same year; elected as a Unionist to the Thirty-seventh Congress and served from December 3, 1862, to March 3, 1863; was not a candidate for renomination in 1862; mustered into the Federal military service July 13, 1863, at New Orleans as captain of Company C, Fifth Regiment of Louisiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until August 12, 1863; appointed in 1863 special agent of the Treasury Department for the southern district, comprising the States of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and western Florida; unsuccessful candidate for election as Governor of Louisiana in 1864; first president of the First National Bank of New Orleans in 1864; reappointed special Treasury agent in 1866; Military Governor of Louisiana in 1867 and 1868; mayor of New Orleans 1870-1872; Assistant Treasurer of the United States at New Orleans 1873-1882; unsuccessful Republican candidate for State treasurer in 1888; died on his estate, “Ben Alva,” near Youngsville, Lafayette Parish, La., March 13, 1896; interment in Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans, La.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present