Benjamin F. Rice | |
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| United States Senator fromArkansas | |
| In office June 23, 1868 – March 3, 1873 | |
| Preceded by | Charles B. Mitchel |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Wallace Dorsey |
| Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives fromEstill County | |
| In office August 6, 1855 – August 3, 1857 | |
| Preceded by | Lewis M. Wilson |
| Succeeded by | Oliver Crawford |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Benjamin Franklin Rice (1828-05-26)May 26, 1828 East Otto, New York, U.S. |
| Died | January 19, 1905(1905-01-19) (aged 76) Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Resting place | Oak Hill Cemetery Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Nancy Jane Riddell |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Benjamin Franklin Rice (May 26, 1828 – January 19, 1905) was aRepublicanpolitician fromArkansas, among several states, who represented that state in theUnited States Senate during theReconstruction years from 1868 to 1873.
Rice was born inEast Otto inCattaraugus County in southwesternNew York. After private schooling, Rice studied law, and upon his admission to the bar, began practicing inIrvine,Estill County,Kentucky. From 1855 to 1856, he served as a member of theKentucky House of Representatives. In 1856, he served as a presidential elector for theRepublicanticket pledged toJohn C. Fremont. Two years later, he married Nancy Jane "Nannie" Riddell.[1][2] In 1860, they relocated toMinnesota, and Rice soon joined theUnion Army as acaptain during theAmerican Civil War. Eventually, he gained promotion to the rank ofmajor and was ajudge advocate with the3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
In 1864, Rice settled in the capital city ofLittle Rock, Arkansas, where he resumed his law practice. He was active in organizing theArkansas Republican Party and was appointed chair of a committee that, in 1868, prepared the state's code of practice. Upon the readmission of Arkansas to the Union, Rice was elected by theArkansas General Assembly to the Senate. At one point, he held the chairmanship of theCommittee on Mines and Mining, now theCommittee on Energy and Natural Resources.
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On returning home, Rice resumed his law practice. In 1875, he moved toColorado for health reasons. He then returned toWashington, D.C. in 1882, where he continued his law practice until his death. He died inTulsa,Oklahoma, and is interred there atOak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C.[3][4]
Media related toBenjamin F. Rice at Wikimedia Commons| U.S. Senate | ||
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| Preceded by Vacant1 (American Civil War) | U.S. senator (Class 3) from Arkansas June 23, 1868 – March 3, 1873 Served alongside:Alexander McDonald | Succeeded by |
| Notes and references | ||
| 1. Because of Arkansas' secession from the Union, the seat remained vacant from 1861 to 1868 whenCharles B. Mitchel was expelled from the Senate. | ||
| Class 2 |  | |
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| Class 3 | ||
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| People | |
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